Kochi, 21 Dec (H.S.):Kerala on Sunday bid a tearful farewell to actor, screenwriter, and filmmaker Sreenivasan—an artist who made Malayalees laugh, think, and reflect through unforgettable characters and razor-sharp satire.

His cremation was held with full official honours at his residence in Kandanad, Tripunithura, at around 11.50 am, with full state honours, amid deeply emotional scenes.

His sons, Vineeth and Dhyan, performed the final rites, with elder son Vineeth lighting the funeral pyre.

Close friend and veteran filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad, who shared one of Malayalam cinema’s most celebrated creative partnerships with him, placed a pen and paper beside his body—a symbolic gesture honouring Sreenivasan’s lifelong relationship with storytelling.

From early morning, thousands of people streamed into Kandanad to pay their last respects.

The public viewing held yesterday at the Ernakulam Town Hall also witnessed a massive turnout, underlining the love and admiration he commanded. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Malayalam super stars Mamooty and Mohanlal paid their last tributes to Sreenivasan at Ernakulam town hall.

Leaders from political, cultural, and film circles visited the residence to offer condolences. For Malayalees, his passing felt like losing one of their own—someone whose humour was rooted in everyday life and whose characters were unforgettable reflections of society.

Sreenivasan passed away on Saturday morning at 8.25 am at the Tripunithura Taluk Hospital. He suffered uneasiness while being taken for dialysis and was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

A son of Paatyam in Kannur, he purchased the vast paddy fields and homestead in Kandanad in 2012, transforming fallow land into fertile fields—just as he transformed ordinary stories into timeless cinema.

His film journey began with P.A. Backer’s Manimuzhakkam, marking his entry as an actor. In 1984, he turned screenwriter with Priyadarshan’s Odaruthammava Aalariyam.

Over a remarkable 48-year career, he wrote scripts for 54 films and directed two.

Of these, 32 were written for Sathyan Anthikad and Priyadarshan—collaborations that shaped an era of Malayalam cinema. His film Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala won the National Award for Best Film on Social Issues in 1998.

He also won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film for Vadakkunokkiyantram in 1989 and received state awards for scripting Mazhayethum Munpe and Sandesham.

With his passing, Malayalam cinema loses a sharp satirist, a compassionate storyteller, and an artist who blended humour and realism like few others. His legacy lives on—in the dialogues, characters, and films that remain etched in the hearts of Malayalees.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman