Mollywood’s veteran actor-screenwriter filmmaker Sreenivasan, 69, left for the ‘immortal’ world on Saturday following a prolonged illness. The actor breathed his last at a hospital in Kochi, where he had been undergoing treatment.
For over four-decades writer-director-actor Sreenivasan played an exceptional role in moulding and defining popular culture, analysing and critiquing the various complexes, hypocrisies and double standards of individuals and society in general.
His characters, roles and screenplays are today part of Malayali cinematic folklore, with some of the dialogues a part of everyday life.
Sreenivasan scripted brilliance from the banal
Sreenivasan’s works like Sandesham and Vadakkunokki Yantram remain timeless, reflecting the psyche of Malayalis.
He has acted in more than 200 films, writing screenplays for several landmark movies and directing a handful of craftily made films that continue to define Malayalam cinema’s golden years.With legendary actor Mohanlal and directors Sathyan Anthikkad and Priyadarshan, Sreenivasan gave life to numerous characters and plots that remain etched in the memory of cine-goers even after decades. They played such an intrinsic part in the life of Malayalis in the ‘80s and ‘90s and even beyond, with Srinivasan being the fulcrum on which they operated.
His social and political satires like Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala, Sandesham and Varavelpu have probed the psyche and intellect of the average Malayali, forcing him/her to think deeply of the society’s priorities. It is difficult to identify another film personality in Malayalam cinema who has played such a central role in helping frame the thought processes of a whole State, especially during the period ranging from 1980-2010.
Sreenivasan won state film awards for movies such as Sandesham, Vadakkunokki Yantram and Mazha Ethum Munpe, along with a National Film Award for best film on social issues in 1998 for his directorial venture Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala and numerous other awards.
News Edit KV Raman
