Sreenivasan, one of the most influential figures in Malayalam cinema as an actor, screenwriter and director, died on Saturday morning at the age of 69 at a government hospital in Kochi, Kerala. According to reports, he faced health problems and underwent heart surgery in 2022.
Sreenivasan cause of death
According to a PTI report, Sreenivasan was traveling to a private hospital in Kochi for dialysis when he developed breathing problems and was shifted to the Taluk Government Hospital in Tripunithura.
According to hospital management, he died around 8:30 am.
Eminent director Sathyan Anthikkad told reporters that Sreenivasan had been unwell for a long time. He also said that Sreenivasan had recently told him that he had quite frequent ailments.
“I used to visit him once in two weeks. I spoke to him on Thursday. He had undergone an operation recently and was having trouble walking. Even then his mind and thought processes were very sharp,” PTI news channel quoted the director as saying.
After Sreenivasan died around 8.30 am, his body was taken from the hospital to his residence.
Sreenivasan’s last rites
The body of the Malayalam actor will be kept at the Ernakulam Town Hall for public homage. His last rites will be held at his residence later.
Sreenivasan is survived by his wife Vimala and their two sons – Vineth Sreenivasan and sreenivasan – who are also actors in the Malayalam film industry.
Sreenivasan, who hailed from Kannur, had been staying at Kandanad in Tripunithura for the past few years.
The tributes are pouring in
From Kerala CM Pinnarayi Vijayan, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to film industry icons including Kamal Hassan and others, everyone paid tribute to veteran Malyalam.
“Some artists entertain, some educate, some provoke. Sreenivasan did it all, with a smile that carried truth and a laugh that carried responsibility. My respect to a remarkable mind. My deepest condolences to his family and admirers,” wrote Kamal Hassan on X along with a photo of Sreenivasan.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a statement that Sreenivasan’s passing is an irreparable loss to Malayalam cinema.
“Very few filmmakers have been able to bring the life of a common man to the silver screen like him and bring the audience to the levels of awareness he craved through humor and thought. Sreenivasan broke many time-honored conventions in cinema as he forged his own path,” the CM said.
