Sreenivasan, a classmate of Rajinikanth, impressed even Tamil Superstar with his writing prowess

Sreenivasan, who died at the age of 69, is the best writer-actor that Malayalam cinema has ever produced. But did you know that Sreenivasan had studied along with Tamil superstar Rajinikanth in the then Madras? Decades later, Rajinikanth had even acted in the Tamil remake of a film penned by Sreenivasan. The Malayalam film Katha Parayumbol, starring Mammootty, was remade in Tamil as Kuselan, which had Jailer 2 actor in the lead. Impressed by the power of his writing, Rajinikanth had said that he never knew about Sreenivasan's writing prowess.

Sreenivasan was Rajinikanth’s classmate

Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth and Malayalam actor-director Sreenivasan studied together at Madras Film Chamber during the 1970s. After watching Sreenivasan-penned Katha Parayumbol, Thalaivar was moved. An emotional Rajini said that he did not know that the Sreenivasan actor could write so profoundly. Sreenivasan had recounted the incident during an interview with the Malayalam magazine Star and Style. He had further recounted replying to Thalaivar that he himself did not know that he was capable of scripting films. 

Also read: Veteran Malayalam actor-filmmaker Sreenivasan passes away at 69 

In other interviews, Sreenivasan had candidly spoken about how director Priyadarshan paved the way for his writing career by saying that he first needed to write the movie to act in it.

Rajinikanth in Sreenivasan’s film remake

Later, when talks were happening about Katha Parayumbol’s remake, Rajinikanth was not initially keen on doing the part. However, Thalaivar gave in to Sreenivasan’s request and gave the nod for the film, Sreenivasan had said during the Star and Style interview.

Kuselan stars Rajinikanth in an extended cameo, which was originally played by Mammootty in the 2007 Malayalam film. The movie revolves around a barber, whose life changes after a superstar comes to his remote village for a film shooting and it becomes known that they were childhood friends. The movie had one of the most touching climaxes, when the superstar recognises his old friend. 

Also read: How Sreenivasan told the common man's problems through his satires in Malayalam cinema 

Sreenivasan had penned Katha Parayumbol, and also acted in the lead role along with Meena, while Mammootty played the superstar character. In the Tamil film, Pasupathy and Meena play the husband-wife with Rajinikanth in superstar's role