The Malayalam film industry is mourning the death of Sreenivasan, a towering creative force whose sharp social satire and humane storytelling reshaped popular cinema in Kerala for nearly five decades. He died Saturday morning at a private hospital in Kochi, industry sources said. He was 69.
Sreenivasan had been admitted late Friday night at Tripunithura after complications related to long-standing cardiac and other health ailments. News of his passing prompted an immediate outpouring of tributes from filmmakers, actors, and fans across the state, many describing him as the conscience of Malayalam cinema.
Born on April 6, 1956, in Patyam near Thalassery in Kannur district, Sreenivasan debuted as an actor in 1976 and went on to appear in more than 225 films. His work as a writer and performer—often blending humor with pointed social critique—earned him a rare cross-generational following. Films such as Sandesham, Varavelpu, Nadodikattu, and Azhakiya Ravanan remain staples of Kerala’s cultural memory.
Beyond acting, he was a director, screenwriter, dubbing artist, and producer, winning a National Film Award and six Kerala State Film Awards. Film scholars often credit him with mainstreaming political satire without sacrificing commercial appeal—an increasingly rare balance in contemporary cinema.
He is survived by his wife, Vimala Sreenivasan, and sons Vineeth Sreenivasan and Dhyan Sreenivasan, both actors who have carried forward his legacy in modern Malayalam cinema.
As Kerala reflects on his passing, Sreenivasan is being remembered not just for the laughs he created, but for the uncomfortable truths he delivered—warmly, wisely, and with enduring relevance.
