We were like Dasan and Vijayan in real life too: Mohanlal

Actor Mohanlal fondly remembered Sreenivasan, who passed away in Ernakulam on Saturday, recalling how their off-screen bond mirrored the camaraderie they shared on screen. In a heartfelt post, the actor said that he and Sreenivasan were like real-life Dasan and Vijayan—the iconic characters from Nadodikkattu that remain etched in the hearts of Malayalam cinema lovers.

Mohanlal, who also paid tribute by attending the memorial at Ernakulam Town Hall in Kochi on Saturday, said Malayali audiences could see reflections of themselves in the characters created by Sreenivasan. He praised Sreenivasan’s writing as pure magic, noting its rare ability to blend humour, humanity, and social truth.

"Sreeni has departed without a goodbye. Words cannot express the depth of the bond I shared with him—it went far beyond that of two colleagues working in the cinema industry. I am certain that every Malayali feels the same sense of familiarity and closeness toward him.

Malayali audiences saw themselves in the many characters Sreeni created. Through him, they experienced their own pain, joy, struggles, and hopes on the big screen. No one captured the dreams and heartbreaks of the middle class as truthfully and beautifully as Sreeni did.

The films in which we shared characters have stood the test of time solely because of the magic of Sreeni’s writing. It was his impeccable storytelling that made Dasan and Vijayan household names in Kerala. His creations were honest reflections of society itself.

To me, Sreeni was not just a writer or a collaborator, but a dear friend—someone who could turn pain into laughter. In many ways, we were like Dasan and Vijayan in real life too: laughing, arguing, and sharing countless moments of joy together.

May my dear Sreeni’s soul rest in peace," Mohanlal wrote.

The duo acted together in over 20 films, including Nadodikkattu, its sequels Pattanapravesham and Akkare Akkare Akkare, Chithram, Mithunam, Varavelpu and Kilichundan Mambazham, creating an everlasting impact on Malayali audiences with their iconic characters.

Sreenivasan, who had been unwell for the past few years, passed away on Saturday morning while being taken for routine dialysis. People from all walks of life, including actors Mohanlal and Mammootty and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, gathered at the Town Hall to pay tribute to him.