Where memories bloom: A living tribute to Sreenivasan amidst sunflowers in the farm he once revived

Tripunithura (Kerala): The Punnachal paddy fields at Kandanad in Udayamperoor here are deeply resonant with the memories of the late actor, screenwriter and director Sreenivasan, who was a passionate advocate for organic farming. Next week, a memorial dedicated to him will be unveiled at this very site.

While the fields were brimming with golden paddy just months ago, they are now lush with a variety of organic vegetables. Alongside the crops, vibrant sunflowers and marigolds add to the scenic beauty. Spread across 15 acres, the cultivation includes lady’s finger, cucumber, snap melon, bitter gourd, snake gourd, ridge gourd, seven varieties of beans, bottle gourd and spinach, as well as fruits like watermelon and shamam (muskmelon). Adjacent to this, sunflowers bloom across 80 cents of land, while yellow and orange marigolds line the field embankments.

The harvested produce is sold directly at the field and in the Kandanad area. This season’s cultivation was led by Manu Philip Thukalan and Saju Kurian Vaishyamparambil, both of whom were associated with Sreenivasan’s farming initiatives from the very beginning.
The ‘Green’ legend lives on
A granite monument featuring an engraved portrait of Sreenivasan has been prepared for installation. The inscription reads: "In respectful memory of the great humanitarian genius, Sreenivasan."

The memorial is being erected under the auspices of the Lions Club of Cochin South, with Manu Philip Thukalan donating one cent of land for the cause.
Honouring the actor who taught a village to farm

It was 15 years ago that Sreenivasan built a house and settled with his family in the rural locale of Kandanad after purchasing 40 cents of land. The Punnachal paddy fields lie adjacent to his residence. Under Sreenivasan’s leadership, paddy cultivation was revived in these fields—which had lain fallow for 35 years—using strictly organic methods. His initiative inspired a local farming revolution, eventually expanding the cultivated area to 102 acres through leased land. His son, actor Dhyan Sreenivasan, also joined his father in these farming efforts. In recent years, it has become a tradition to grow vegetables and sunflowers following the paddy harvest.

Manu Philip recalls that even during his illness, Sreenivasan would visit the fields to see the crops and sunflowers. Though the "green" soul that was Sreenivasan has passed away, the Punnachal fields remain a living testament to his enduring legacy.