Sreenivasan

Sreenivasan (2 May 1950 – 20 December 2025) was an Indian actor, screenwriter, film director and producer who predominantly worked in Malayalam cinema. He starred in over 225 films. Sreenivasan wrote the screenplays of films such as Odaruthammava Aalariyam (1984), Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam (1986), Gandhinagar 2nd Street (1986), Nadodikkattu (1987), Pattanapravesham (1988), Varavelpu (1989), Thalayana Manthram (1990), Sandesam (1991), Midhunam (1993), Mazhayethum Munpe (1995), Azhakiya Ravanan (1996), Oru Maravathoor Kanavu (1998), Udayananu Tharam (2005), Katha Parayumpol (2007), and Njan Prakashan (2018), the latter being one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time. He won two Kerala State Film Awards for Best Screenplay for Sandesam and Mazhayethum Munpe, along with several other honours including a National Film Award, two Filmfare Awards South and six Kerala State Film Awards.

As a writer and actor, he frequently collaborated with directors such as Priyadarshan, Sathyan Anthikad and Kamal. As a filmmaker, he scripted and directed Vadakkunokkiyanthram (1989) and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala (1998). Vadakkunokkiyanthram won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film, while Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues and the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value at the 29th Kerala State Film Awards. He co-produced Katha Parayumpol (2007) and Thattathin Marayathu (2012) under the banner Lumiere Film Company, along with actor Mukesh.

Sreenivasan was born in Pattiom, a village near Kuthuparamba in Kannur district of Kerala. He has a sister and two brothers. His mother was a homemaker and his father a school teacher. Sreenivasan completed his formal education at Kuthuparamba Middle School and Government High School, Kadirur. He received a bachelor's degree in economics from Pazhassi Raja N. S. S. College, Mattanur. In 1977, he joined the Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu in Chennai to complete his formal training in films.

Sreenivasan debuted in the 1976 P. A. Backer movie Manimuzhakkam. His first lead role was Sanghaganam (1979). At film school, he was enrolled by Aniyeri Prabhakaran, who later cast him in Mela (1980). In 1984, Sreenivasan wrote his first film, Odaruthammava Aalariyam. He both wrote and acted in Varavelpu, Gandhinagar 2nd Street, Nadodikkattu and its two sequels, Pattanapravesham, and Akkare Akkare Akkare. As a director he filmed Vadakkunokkiyanthram and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala. His comedies include Aram + Aram = Kinnaram, Kinnaripuzhayoram, Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu, Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu, Artham, Azhakiya Ravanan, and Chithram.

Sreenivasan’s scripts in the 1980s and 1990s were profoundly successful in creating a new dimension for Malayalam cinema by way of humor to show vibrant and engaging stories of ordinary people in the simplest manner, usually with fast-paced scripts. Many of the characters he created, most of them taken from his real-life experience, drew the viewers into compelling narratives that kept them immersed in their journey through the movie. Through his satires, he addressed the challenges of unemployment and socioeconomic inequality. Sreenivasan portrayed diverse characters within his movies.

Sreenivasan was married in 1984 to Vimala, a school teacher, now retired. The couple has two sons. The elder son, Vineeth Sreenivasan, is a singer, actor, producer, and director. The younger son, Dhyan Sreenivasan, is also an actor, director, and producer who made his debut in the movie Thira. Divya Narayanan and Arpita Sebastian are his daughters-in-law.

Sreenivasan died at Taluk Hospital in Tripunithura, Kochi, on December 20, 2025, after being ill with Triple Vessel Disease for a long time, at the age of 75.

National Film Awards

• 1998 – Best Film on Other Social Issues – Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala (director)

Kerala State Film Awards

• 1989 – Best Film – Vadakkunokkiyantram (director)
• 1991 – Best Story – Sandhesam
• 1995 – Best Screenplay – Mazhayethum Munpe
• 1998 – Best Popular Film – Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala (director)
• 2006 – Special Mention (Acting) – Thakarachenda
• 2007 – Best Popular Film – Katha Parayumpol (producer)

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards

• 1989 – Best Story – Vadakkunokkiyantram
• 1995 – Best Screenplay – Mazhayethum Munpe
• 1998 – Best Popular Film – Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala (director)
• 2002 – Best Screenplay – Yathrakarude Sradhakku
• 2007 – Best Screenplay – Katha Parayumpol
• 2007 – Special Jury Award
• 2023 – Chalachitra Ratnam Award

Filmfare Awards South

• 1998 – Best Director – Malayalam – Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala
• 2007 – Best Film – Malayalam – Katha Parayumpol (producer)

Asianet Film Awards

• 1998 – Best Director – Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala
• 2005 – Best Script Writer – Udayananu Tharam
• 2007 – Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2007 – Best Film – Katha Parayumpol (producer)
• 2009 – Best Supporting Actor – Makante Achan, Passenger
• 2010 – Special Jury Award – Aathmakatha
• 2018 – Best Script Writer – Njan Prakashan

Ramu Kariat Memorial Awards

• 1998 – Best Film – Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala
• 2010 – Best Actor – Aathmakatha

Other Awards

• 2008 – Best Script Writer – Katha Parayumpol
• 2009 – Sathyan Memorial Film Award for his outstanding contributions to Malayalam cinema.
• 2011 – Golden Friends of Kannur Expatriates Award
• 2011 – T. K. Ramakrishnan Memorial Award for exemplary contribution to public life.
• 2012 – Bharat Balan K. Nair Film Award for his outstanding contributions to Malayalam cinema.
• 2024 – Tapasya Madampu Smriti Award for contributions to Malayalam film literature.