Malayalam actor-filmmaker Sreenivasan passes away, curtains down on a 48-year illustrious cinematic journey

Renowned Malayalam actor-filmmaker-writer Sreenivasan has passed away at the age of 69. Sreenivasan had been unwell for the past several years and breathed his last on December 20, 2025, bringing the curtains down on an illustrious cinematic journey. He died at the Thrippunithura taluk hospital in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, Malayalam news channels have reported.

Sreenivasan is survived by sons - actor-directors Vineeth Sreenivasan and Dhyan Sreenivasan, and his wife Vimala. After hearing the news of his demise, fans and industry colleagues have been paying their condolences to one of the most prolific writers of the 90s who helped shape Malayalam cinema.

Sreenivasan dies at 69

Known for his signature humour and cynical view of society, Sreenivasan was able to carve a distinct identity for himself in the Malayalam film industry. His demise brings down the curtains on a long and remarkable film career of 48 years. Sreenivasan has acted in over 200 films and penned the script for scores of movies. Vadakkunokkiyanthram and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala are two of his directorials, that still spark conversations. 

He was seen in Nancy Rani, featuring Ahaana Krishna, which was among his last films to release. Before that, he was seen in his son Dhyan Sreenivasan's film Aap Kaise ho and Kurukkan with his elder son Vineeth.

What happened to Sreenivasan?

Sreenivasan had taken a break from active films as he had been unwell for the past years. He had undergone a bypass surgery in 2022 after suffering a cardiac stroke and was even put on ventilator support. Though he recovered and made public outings, he was visibly weak.

On the morning of December 20, Sreenivasan was going to Amrita Hospital in Kochi for dialysis when he fell unwell. He was immediately rushed to Thrippunithura hospital, but his life could not be saved. He breathed his last around 8.30am on Saturday. 

Sreenivasan's cinema journey

A native of Kannur, Sreenivasan began his film career in 1976 with the film titled Manimuzhakkam and became a strong presence from the mid-1980s to the 1990s. Popular filmmaker Priyadarshan sparked his writing career as he coerced Sreenivasan to write his first screenplay for Odaruthammava Aalariyam in 1984. His first directorial, Vadakkunokkiyanthram, in which he also played the lead role, was released in 1989 and also achieved National Awards glory.

Sreenivasan films with Mohanlal, Sathyan Anthikad

Sreenivasan has also played key roles in several films with Mohanlal, such as Nadodikkattu, Pattanapravesham, Akkare Akkare Akkare and Midhunam. His collaborations with director Sathyan Anthikad gifted Malayalam cinema some of the most endearing and thoughtful films, such as Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam, and Gandhinagar 2nd Street that also starred Mohanlal in the lead role along with Sreenivasan. Thalayana Manthram, which had starred Urvashi in a negative role, was also penned by Sreenivasan. But Sreenivasan's most popular screenplay would be Sandesham, helmed by Sathyan Anthikad. There is hardly an election phase in Kerala that goes by without references from Sandesham, reels carved out of the film continue to flood social media during almost every poll season.