Veteran Malayalam actor Sreenivasan dies at 69: Veteran Malayalam actor, filmmaker and screenwriter Sreenivasan passed away in Kochi on Saturday (December 20, 2025). He was 69. He had been undergoing treatment for cardiac and other health issues for some time. He died at the Tripunithura taluk hospital while being taken for dialysis. His body has been kept at the hospital, and funeral details are expected to be announced later.
Malayalam actor Sreenivasan dies: Filmmaker’s early life and entry into cinema
Born on April 6, 1956, in Patyam near Thalassery in Kerala’s Kannur district, Sreenivasan developed an early interest in cinema and storytelling. He made his acting debut in P A Backer’s Manimuzhakkam in 1976 and went on to play his first lead role in Sanghaganam in 1979. He later trained at the Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu in Chennai. This helped him shape his career as a writer, actor and director.
Sreenivasan’s career as an actor
Sreenivasan acted in more than 225 films during his nearly five-decade-long career. He became known for portraying ordinary people and middle-class characters with realism. His performances were marked by simplicity and restraint, making many of his roles relatable to audiences across generations.
Iconic screenwriting work
As a screenwriter, Sreenivasan wrote some of Malayalam cinema’s most popular and socially relevant films. His notable works include Odaruthammava Aalariyam, Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam, Gandhinagar 2nd Street, Nadodikkattu, Pattanapravesham, Varavelpu, Sandesam, Midhunam, Mazhayethum Munpe, Katha Parayumpol and Njan Prakashan. Several of these films remain classics and continue to be widely watched.
Sreenivasan’s work as a filmmaker
Sreenivasan also made a mark as a director with Vadakkunokkiyanthram and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala. Vadakkunokkiyanthram won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film, while Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala received the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues.
Awards and collaborations
Over the years, Sreenivasan received many honours, including a National Film Award, two Filmfare Awards South and six Kerala State Film Awards. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay for Sandesam and Mazhayethum Munpe. He frequently collaborated with directors such as Priyadarshan, Sathyan Anthikad and Kamal, playing a key role in shaping Malayalam cinema during its popular and socially driven phase.
Sreenivasan’s family
Sreenivasan is survived by his wife Vimala Sreenivasan and his two sons, Vineeth Sreenivasan and Dhyan Sreenivasan, both of whom are active in the Malayalam film industry as actors and filmmakers.