Sreenivasan' Funeral on Sunday in Udayamperoor: Malayalam Cinema Mourns

Thrippunithura: The funeral of legendary Malayalam actor, screenwriter and director Sreenivasan will be held on Sunday at 10 am at his residence in Udayamperoor. His mortal remains, brought from the hospital to his home, will be kept for public homage at the Ernakulam Town Hall from 1 pm on Saturday, allowing fans and admirers to pay their last respects.

Sreenivasan passed away at around 8.30 am on Saturday at the Tripunithura Taluk Hospital. He had been undergoing treatment for various ailments for some time.

Tributes Pour In

As news of his death spread, people from the film, political and cultural spheres gathered at the hospital and later at his residence. Film personalities from across Kerala have been arriving in Kochi to pay tribute to the departed artist. Veteran actor Mammootty, accompanied by his wife Sulfath, visited Sreenivasan’s home to offer condolences to the family.

Sreenivasan's wife Vimala, son Vineeth Srinivasan, and Actor Mammootty at Sreenivasan's residence.

A Towering Presence in Malayalam Cinema

Beyond being a celebrated actor, Sreenivasan left a lasting imprint as a director and screenwriter, bringing the struggles, humour and contradictions of ordinary people to the silver screen with rare sensitivity and wit. For nearly four decades, he shone across all domains of Malayalam cinema, earning a place as one of its most influential creative voices.

Early Life and Artistic Roots

Sreenivasan was born on April 6, 1956, at Padiyam near Thalassery in Kannur district. His father, Uchamvelli Unni, was a schoolteacher and an active Communist Party worker who played a significant role in building the party’s grassroots base in the Kongat area of Padiyam. His mother was Lakshmi.

Growing up in a locality known for its active reading rooms, Sreenivasan developed a deep interest in literature and theatre from an early age. He studied at Kathirur Government High School and Mattannur NSS College, where he was actively involved in drama. His elder brother Ravindran was his first inspiration.

After the Emergency, Sreenivasan wrote the play “Gharibi Ghatao”, criticising then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, which was staged on the advice of Padiyam Gopalan. He was also active in the theatre movement of Bhavana Theatres, Kathirur. He later obtained a diploma from the Adyar Film Institute in 1977, where superstar Rajinikanth was his senior.

As Kerala prepares to bid farewell to one of its most beloved cultural icons, tributes continue to highlight Sreenivasan’s enduring legacy as an artist who blended laughter, critique and humanity to redefine Malayalam cinema.