Kochi,20 Dec (H.S.):Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, along with veteran actors Mammootty and Mohanlal, were among the first to pay homage to legendary filmmaker, screenwriter, and actor Sreenivasan, whose death on Saturday has left the Malayalam film industry and the state in profound grief.
People from all walks of life gathered at the Tripunithura taluk hospital and later at his residence in Udayamperoor, as the news of his passing spread across Kerala.
Sreenivasan, who had been ailing for the past few years, died on Saturday morning while being taken for routine dialysis. He was rushed to the Tripunithura taluk hospital but was declared brought dead.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described Sreenivasan’s passing as an irreparable loss to Malayalam cinema, praising his unmatched ability to portray the common man with humour, realism, and razor-sharp social insight.
Mammootty, visibly moved, paid his respects at the actor’s residence, while Mohanlal—who shared a long professional and personal bond with Sreenivasan—expressed deep sorrow and admiration for the late icon.
Political leaders and film industry colleagues, including actor and Kollam MLA Mukesh, screenwriter Renji Panicker, and director Sathyan Anthikad, arrived at the hospital to pay their respects.
Later, at Town Hall, actors Dileep, Basil Joseph, Sai Kumar, Bindhu Panicker, Vishak Nair, Roshan Mathew and others joined hundreds of admirers as tributes continued to pour in.
Over a career spanning nearly five decades, Sreenivasan built an enduring legacy as a master storyteller, actor, and satirist.
His ability to craft narratives grounded in social reality reshaped Malayalam cinema.
He received numerous accolades, 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, both considered milestones in Malayalam filmmaking.
Sreenivasan is survived by his wife, Vimala Sreenivasan, and two sons, Vineeth and Dhyan—both prominent actors and filmmakers—who continue his cinematic legacy.
As tributes continue to pour in, Kerala mourns not just an actor but a cultural voice—one who captured the humour, contradictions, and humanity of everyday life with unmatched grace and insight.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
