Sreenivasan

Sreenivasan (born 6 April 1956) is an Indian film actor, screenwriter, director and producer who works predominantly in Malayalam films.

Sreenivasan has starred in over 200 films. He is most popular for his comedy oriented performances. Sreenivasan wrote the screenplay for films such as Odaruthammava Aalariyam (1984), Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam (1986), Gandhinagar 2nd Street (1986), Nadodikkattu (1987), Pattanapravesham (1988), Varavelpu (1989), Thalayanamanthram (1990), Sandesam (1991), "Midhunam (1993)Mazhayethum Munpe (1995), Azhakiya Ravanan (1996), Oru Maravathoor Kanavu (1998), Udayananu Tharam (2005), Katha Parayumpol (2007), and Njan Prakashan (2018) among which the latter is one of the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time. He has won two Kerala State Film Awards for Best Screenplay, for Sandesam and Mazhayethum Munpe.

As a writer and actor he has frequently collaborated with directors such as Priyadarshan, Sathyan Anthikad and Kamal. As a filmmaker, he scripted and directed Vadakkunokkiyanthram (1989) and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala (1998). While Vadakkunokkiyanthram (1989) won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film, Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala (1998) won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues and Best Popular Film Award at the 29th Kerala State Film Awards. He co-producedKatha Parayumpol (2007) and Thattathin Marayathu (2012) under the banner Lumiere Film Company, along with actor Mukesh.

Sreenivasan was born in Patyam, a village near Thalassery in Kannur, North Malabar region of Kerala. He has a sister and two brothers. His mother was a homemaker and his father a school teacher.

Sreenivasan completed his formal education at Koothuparamb Middle School and Government High School, Kadirur. He received a bachelor's degree in Economics from Pazhassi Raja N. S. S. College, Mattanur. In 1977, Sreenivasan studied at the Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu, Chennai.

Sreenivasan is married to Vimala, a school teacher (retired). His elder son, Vineeth Sreenivasan, is a director, lyricist, singer, dubbing artist and actor. His younger son, Dhyan Sreenivasan, made his debut in Thira, a thriller movie directed by his brother.

Sreenivasan debuted in the 1977 P. A. Backer movie Manimuzhakkam. At film school, he was enrolled by A. Prabhakaran, who later cast him in Mela (1980).

In 1984, Sreenivasan wrote his first film, Odaruthammava Aalariyam. He both wrote and acted in Varavelpu, Gandhinagar 2nd Street, Nadodikkattu and its two sequels, Pattanapravesham, and Akkare Akkare Akkare.

As a director he filmed Vadakkunokkiyanthram and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala.

His comedies include Aram + Aram = Kinnaram, Kinnaripuzhayoram, Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu, Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu, Artham, Azhakiya Ravanan, Chithram etc.

Sreenivasan's scripts in 1980's and 90's brilliantly portrayed the amusing part of people who were obsessed with pulp fiction stories that appeared in substandard Malayalam magazines while not to mention about his subtle approach in explaining the negative influence of such contents to the society of which majority were jobless. Through sagacious humor, he was, on the other hand, pretty successful in providing incredible insights into anarchy caused by the militant labor unions that are largely responsible for the closure of industries in Kerala.

Sreenivasan has created a new dimension for Malayalam cinema by way of humor to tell stories in the simplest manner.

National Film Awards:

• 1998 – Best Film on Other Social Issues – Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala

Kerala State Film Awards:

• 2007– Best Popular Film – Katha Parayumbol (produced and written by Sreenivasan)
• 2006 – Special Mention (Acting) – Thakarachenda
• 1998 – Best Popular Film – Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala (written and directed by Sreenivasan)
• 1995 – Best Screen Play – Mazhayethum Munpe
• 1995 – Best Popular Film – Mazhayethum Munpe (screenplay by Sreenivasan)
• 1991 – Kerala State Film Award for Best Story – Sandesam
• 1989 – Best Film – Vadakkunokkiyantram

Asianet Film Awards

• 2009 - Asianet Film Honour Special Jury Award for various films
• 2009 – Supporting Actor Award – Makante Achan, Passenger
• 2007 - Asianet Film Award for Lifetime Achievement for various films
• 2007 – Best Film Award – Kadha Parayumbol
• 2005 – Best Script Writer Award – Udayananu Tharam
• 2005 – Best Actor Award – Udayananu Tharam
• 1998 – Best Film Award – Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala
• 1998 – Best Director Award – Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala

Other awards

• 2010 – Asiavision Movie Award for Lifetime Achievement
• 2008 – Bahadoor Award for his contributions to Malayalam cinema