Sreenivasan: The man whose on-screen wit mirrored his real self

Veteran actor and scriptwriter Sreenivasan was a rare breed in the world of cinema—his on-screen wit and sharp political satire were not mere performances, but extensions of who he truly was. Unpretentious, unfiltered, and always true to himself, he became an enigma, who never minced his words.
“But that was Sreenivasan,” recalled cinematographer Venu, who worked with him on ‘Vadakkunokiyanthram,’ Sreenivasan’s debut as a director. “He never minced his words. He said exactly what he thought. While I may have disagreed with some of his political and ideological views, I could only admire him—both as an artist and as a person.”

According to Venu, this honesty was matched by an infectious joy for life. “Despite being a sharp critic of society through satire, he was a very light-hearted man,” he told Onmanorama. “That quality reflected clearly in his writing. Every character he created carried that same zest for living.”
The making of ‘Vadakkunokiyanthram’ revealed this side of Sreenivasan even more clearly. Venu remembers arriving on set only to learn that the script had not yet been written down. “It was his first time directing, and I was worried,” Venu said. “How do you shoot without a finished script?” But Sreenivasan remained calm. He trusted his instincts and, more importantly, trusted the people working with him. By the next day, everything had fallen into place.

Beyond cinema, Sreenivasan carried the same passion into his personal life. Venu recalled his deep love for sports, which many people were unaware of. “One of the reasons he named his son after the legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand was because of that love,” Venu said.

Director Kamal fondly remembered how Sreenivasan viewed life through a lens of humour, even in moments of sorrow. “That sensibility always found its way into his writing,” he said. “His first script, ‘Odaruthammava Aalariyam,’ was a humorous tale, and that playful, satirical yet sharp tone became his signature.”

However, Kamal noted that Sreenivasan was also willing to adapt and challenge himself. “When he worked with me, he insisted on writing romantic stories because that was the kind of cinema I was making,” he said. “That is how ‘Paavam Paavam Rajakumaran’ and ‘Mazhayathu Munpe’ came into being.”

Mazhayathu Munpe went on to earn Sreenivasan his first—and only—Kerala State Award for Best Screenplay, marking a significant milestone in his writing career.
Director Rosshan Andrrews, who worked with Sreenivasan on ‘Udayananu Thaaram,’ said it was Sreenivasan’s script that shaped his journey as a filmmaker. “When he heard the story, he laughed for a long time,” he recalls. “He genuinely enjoyed writing screenplays. I can’t explain how much he has shaped my career. To me, he is the Anton Chekhov of Indian cinema.”

Actor Ponnamma Babu, who worked with him in ‘Pilots’ and ‘Honey Bee,’ also recalled Sreenivasan as a gifted artist who found humour in his life. “He was always humorous, even off screen,” she said. “That energy never stopped. In an industry where some comedians, including actors like Jagathy became serious once the camera was off, Sreenivasan remained the same—playful, warm, and always ready with a joke.”
Actor Sangitha, who worked with him in ‘Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala,’ remembered how easily he put her at ease. “At the time, I didn’t fully understand how deep the film was,” she said. “Only after its release did I realise he had created something special.” Their bond deepened during the shoot of ‘Hridyapoorvam.’ directed by Sathyan Anthikad. “He was genuinely concerned about my daughter’s studies. He asked about my mother even after several years. He was this brilliant artist, but also genuinely a good human being,” she said. Actor-screenwriter Sreenivasan, who passed away at the Tripunithura Taluk Hospital on Saturday, will be cremated with full state honours on Sunday morning.