Sreenivasan (2 May 1950 – 20 December 2025) was an Indian actor, screenwriter, film director, and producer who mostly worked in Malayalam cinema. He appeared in more than 225 films. He wrote the scripts for movies 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). Njan Prakashan is one of the most successful Malayalam films ever made. He received two Kerala State Film Awards for Best Screenplay for Sandesam and Mazhayethum Munpe, as well as other honors, including a National Film Award, two Filmfare Awards South, and six Kerala State Film Awards.

As a writer and actor, he often worked with directors like Priyadarshan, Sathyan Anthikad, and Kamal. As a filmmaker, he wrote and directed Vadakkunokkiyanthram (1989) and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala (1998). Vadakkunokkiyanthram won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film. 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 company Lumiere Film Company, along with actor Mukesh.

Early life

Sreenivasan was born in Pattiom, a village near Thalassery in Kannur, North Malabar region of Kerala. He has one sister and two brothers. His mother was a homemaker, and his father was a school teacher. Sreenivasan finished his schooling at Kuthuparamba Middle School and Government High School in Kadirur. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Pazhassi Raja N. S. S. College in Mattanur. In 1977, he began training at the Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu in Chennai to learn about filmmaking.

Career

Sreenivasan first appeared in the 1976 movie Manimuzhakkam directed by P. A. Backer. His first main role was in the 1979 film Sanghaganam. While studying at film school, he was chosen 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 follow-up films, Pattanapravesham and Akkare Akkare Akkare. As a director, he made Vadakkunokkiyanthram and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala. His comedy films include Aram + Aram = Kinnaram, Kinnaripuzhayoram, Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu, Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu, Artham, Azhakiya Ravanan, and Chithram.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Sreenivasan’s scripts were very successful in adding a new way to Malayalam cinema by using humor to tell exciting and interesting stories about everyday people in simple ways, often with fast-paced scenes.

Many of the characters he created were based on his own life experiences. These characters helped viewers become deeply involved in the stories and follow the characters’ journeys throughout the films.

At the same time, his satirical works provided important understanding of challenges faced by people due to unemployment and unequal treatment based on wealth or social class.

Sreenivasan’s dialogue sounded natural and avoided stereotypes, allowing him to show real and diverse characters in his movies. Many of his characters have left a lasting impression on viewers, and some of their lines have become famous sayings used by Malayalees of all ages around the world.

Personal life and death

Sreenivasan married Vimala, a school teacher who is now retired, in 1984. The couple has two sons. The older son, Vineeth Sreenivasan, works as a singer, actor, producer, and director. The younger son, Dhyan Sreenivasan, is also an actor, director, and producer. He began his career in the movie Thira. Divya Narayanan and Arpita Sebastian are his daughters-in-law.

Sreenivasan passed away at Taluk Hospital in Tripunithura, Kochi, on December 20, 2025, at the age of 75. He had been sick with Triple Vessel Disease for many years before his death.

Awards and honours

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

• 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

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

• 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

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

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