Thousands bid farewell to veteran actor and filmmaker Sreenivasan; cremation at 10 am tomorrow

Kochi: Fans, film personalities and political leaders gathered to pay tribute to veteran Malayalam actor, screenwriter and filmmaker Sreenivasan, whose mortal remains lay in state before his funeral on Sunday. The 69‑year‑old, widely revered for his work both in front of and behind the camera, passed away on 20 December following a prolonged health struggle.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described Sreenivasan’s death as an irreparable loss to Malayalam cinema, noting his unique ability to portray the life of the common man through humour, realism and sharp social insight.

Hundreds of mourners gathered at Tripunithura Taluk Hospital and later at the Town Hall in Ernakulam, where his body was kept for public homage on Saturday afternoon. Among those who came to pay their last respects were legendary actor Mammootty and his wife Sulfath, who arrived early and stood by Sreenivasan’s wife, Vimala Sreenivasan, along with other members of the family.

Other prominent figures from Malayalam cinema, including actor Mukesh, Mohanlal, Dileep, screenwriter and actor Renji Panicker, and director Sathyan Anthikad, also paid tribute during the day.

Mohanlal also took to Facebook to share a deeply emotional tribute to his longtime collaborator. Posting a picture of Sreenivasan, Mohanlal wrote, “No one else can express the dreams and broken dreams of the middle class like Sreeni. The characters we created together will last forever, only because of the magic in Sreeni's writing. Dasan and Vijayan became their own people for every Malayali because of Sreeni's blessed writing talent. His works were a reflection of society. A beloved person who captured pain in laughter. On screen and in life, we traveled together forever, laughing, having fun, fighting, and getting along like Dasan and Vijayan.”

Sreenivasan, who had been unwell for the past few years, died on Saturday morning while being taken for routine dialysis. Despite being rushed to the nearby Tripunithura Taluk Hospital, doctors declared him brought dead. His mortal remains were later taken to his residence in Udayamperoor.

His body was moved from the hospital to his home and then to the Ernakulam Town Hall, where it was placed for public viewing from 1pm to 3pm on 20 December 2025. The body was kept for mourners until 4pm to enable them to pay their respects.

Sreenivasan’s final rites were scheduled for 10am on Sunday, 21 December 2025, at his residence in Kandanad. The Kerala government announced police honours for the service, which included a bugle salute to honour his contribution to the arts.

Tributes poured in from across the film and entertainment industry. Actor‑filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran called him one of the “greatest ever writer/director/actor” and thanked him for the laughs and thoughts he shared.

Director and actor Basil Joseph said Sreenivasan would always live on through his work and in memories from childhood.

Actress Manju Warrier described him as a timeless artist whose legacy would endure through his writing, acting and direction.

Tamil film icon Kamal Haasan offered his respects to a “remarkable mind”, praising Sreenivasan for entertaining, enlightening and provoking audiences with truth and humour.

Actress Khushbu Sundar expressed deep sadness at his passing and noted his impact as a great actor and writer.

Superstar Rajinikanth paid tribute, recalling their friendship from their time at film institute and describing him as “an excellent actor and a very good human being”.

Actor Indrajith Sukumaran remembered Sreenivasan as a core part of his cinema memories, and Tovino Thomas shared a heartfelt, wordless tribute with a broken‑heart emoji.

Sreenivasan was celebrated as one of Malayalam cinema’s most influential figures. He was known for his witty, realistic scripts and memorable portrayals that reflected deep social realities. Over a distinguished career spanning almost five decades, he earned wide acclaim as an actor, screenwriter and director, contributing to numerous classic films that remain cherished by audiences.

He is survived by his wife Vimala Sreenivasan and their sons, Vineeth Sreenivasan and Dhyan Sreenivasan, both of whom are actors and were present with the family during the homage.