Sreenivasan (born 6 April 1956) is an Indian actor,
screenwriter
A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based.
...
,
director
Director may refer to:
Literature
* ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine
* ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker
* ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty
Music
* Director (band), an Irish rock band
* ''D ...
, dubbing artist and
producer who predominantly works in
Malayalam cinema
Malayalam cinema is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kochi, Kerala, India. The films produced in Malayalam cinema are known for their cinematography and story-driven plots. In 1982, ''Elippathayam' ...
. Sreenivasan has starred in over 225 films. Sreenivasan wrote the screenplays of films such as ''
Odaruthammava Aalariyam'' (1984), ''
Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam
''Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam'' () is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-drama film directed by Sathyan Anthikkad and written by Sreenivasan from a story by Anthikkad. The film stars Mohanlal, Karthika, Sreenivasan and M. G. Soman. The ...
'' (1986), ''
Gandhinagar 2nd Street
''Gandhinagar 2nd Street'' is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Sreenivasan from a story by Anthikad. It stars Mohanlal in the lead role, with Karthika, Seema, Sreenivasan, Thilak ...
'' (1986), ''
Nadodikkattu
''Nadodikkattu'' () is a 1987 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Sreenivasan based on a story by the Siddique–Lal duo. It stars Mohanlal and Sreenivasan in the lead roles, along with an ...
'' (1987), ''
Pattanapravesham
''Pattanapravesham'' () is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language detective comedy film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Sreenivasan. It stars Mohanlal, Sreenivasan, Karamana Janardhanan Nair, Ambika and Thilakan in the lead roles. It is a ...
'' (1988), ''
Varavelpu
''Varavelpu'' () is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language black comedy film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Sreenivasan, starring Mohanlal, Revathi, Sreenivasan, Thilakan, Murali, Innocent, and Jagadish. The film was produced by K. Rajag ...
'' (1989), ''
Thalayanamanthram'' (1990), ''
Sandesam'' (1991), ''
Midhunam'' (1993), ''
Mazhayethum Munpe
''Mazhayethum Munpe (Before the Rain Comes)'' is a 1995 Malayalam romantic drama film directed by Kamal and written by Sreenivasan. The film stars Mammootty, Shobhana, Annie and Sreenivasan in the lead roles. The plot is centered upon a coll ...
'' (1995), ''
Azhakiya Ravanan
''Azhakiya Ravanan'' (Handsome Ravanan) is a 1996 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy-drama film directed by Kamal and written by Sreenivasan. The film has an ensemble cast of Mammootty, Bhanupriya, Sreenivasan, Innocent, Biju Menon, ...
'' (1996), ''
Oru Maravathoor Kanavu
''Oru Maravathoor Kanavu'' is a 1998 Malayalam comedy-drama musical film directed by Lal Jose and written by Sreenivasan. It stars Mammootty, Biju Menon, Mohini, Divya Unni, Sreenivasan, Kalabhavan Mani, Sukumari and Nedumudi Venu. The musi ...
'' (1998), ''
Udayananu Tharam
''Udayananu Tharam'' () is a 2005 Indian Malayalam-language black comedy satire film directed by Rosshan Andrrews and written by Sreenivasan based on a story he had co-written with the director. The film stars Mohanlal, Sreenivasan, Meena, Mukes ...
'' (2005), ''
Katha Parayumpol
''Katha Parayumpol'' () is a 2007 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film directed by M. Mohanan, written by Sreenivasan, and co-produced by Sreenivasan and Mukesh. It stars Sreenivasan, Meena and Mammootty. The film was a commercial success ...
'' (2007), and ''
Njan Prakashan
''Njan Prakashan'' (') is a 2018 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Sreenivasan and starring Fahadh Faasil in the titular role. Sethu Mannarkkad produced the film under the banner of Full ...
'' (2018) among which the latter is one of the
highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time. He has won two
Kerala State Film Awards for Best Screenplay, for ''Sandesam'' and ''
Mazhayethum Munpe
''Mazhayethum Munpe (Before the Rain Comes)'' is a 1995 Malayalam romantic drama film directed by Kamal and written by Sreenivasan. The film stars Mammootty, Shobhana, Annie and Sreenivasan in the lead roles. The plot is centered upon a coll ...
''.
As a writer and actor he has frequently collaborated with directors such as
Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan (born 30 January 1957) is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer who works predominantly in Malayalam and Hindi films, while also having done six films in Tamil and two films in Telugu. He has done about 31 films in Hi ...
,
Sathyan Anthikad
Sathyan Anthikad is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and lyricist who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. In a career spanning five decades he has directed more than 50 films, been the lyricist for 12 films and been the scriptwriter ...
and
Kamal. As a
filmmaker
Filmmaking (film production) is the process by which a motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, starting with an initial story, idea, or commission. It then continues through screenwriting, castin ...
, he scripted and directed ''
Vadakkunokkiyanthram'' (1989) and ''
Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala
''Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala '' (English language, English: ''Shyamala lost in thought'') is a 1998 Malayalam cinema, Malayalam black comedy, black comedy film written and directed by Sreenivasan, starring Sangita Madhavan Nair, Sangita, Sreeniva ...
'' (1998). While ''
Vadakkunokkiyanthram'' (1989) won the
Kerala State Film Award for Best Film
The Kerala State Film Award for Best Film is an award presented annually at the Kerala State Film Awards of India to the best film in Malayalam cinema. The awards are managed directly by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy under the Department ...
, ''
Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala
''Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala '' (English language, English: ''Shyamala lost in thought'') is a 1998 Malayalam cinema, Malayalam black comedy, black comedy film written and directed by Sreenivasan, starring Sangita Madhavan Nair, Sangita, Sreeniva ...
'' (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-produced ''
Katha Parayumpol
''Katha Parayumpol'' () is a 2007 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film directed by M. Mohanan, written by Sreenivasan, and co-produced by Sreenivasan and Mukesh. It stars Sreenivasan, Meena and Mammootty. The film was a commercial success ...
'' (2007) and ''
Thattathin Marayathu
''Thattathin Marayathu'' () is a 2012 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan, starring Nivin Pauly and Isha Talwar. The supporting cast includes Aju Varghese, Manoj K. Jayan, Sunny Wayne, Sre ...
'' (2012) under the banner Lumiere Film Company, along with actor
Mukesh Mukesh is an epithet for the Hindu god Shiva, and literally means "conqueror of the Muka demon". It also means god of 3 worlds, heaven, hell & earth, which in turn represents Hindu god Shiva. It is commonly used as a male given name in India. Peopl ...
.
Early life
Sreenivasan was born in Patyam, a village near
Thalassery
Thalassery (), formerly Tellicherry, is a municipality, Commercial City on the Malabar Coast in Kannur district, in the state of Kerala, India, bordered by the districts of Mahé (Pondicherry), Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kasaragod and Kodagu (Karna ...
in
Kannur, North Malabar region of
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
. He has a sister and two brothers. His mother was a homemaker and his father a school teacher. Sreenivasan completed his formal education at
Kuthuparamba
Kuthuparamba is a town and a municipality in the Kannur district, state of Kerala, India. It is about 24 km south east of Kannur and 14 km east of Thalassery.
History
Kuthuparamba was part of Kottayam dynasty under the reign of Pa ...
Middle School and
Government High School, Kadirur. He received a bachelor's degree in economics from
PRNSS College, Mattanur. In 1977, Sreenivasan studied at the
Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu
The M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute, formerly known as the Adyar Film Institute, is Asia's first-ever film and television training institute. Established in 1945 as Adyar Film Institute, it is one of the pioneer film in ...
,
Chennai
Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...
.
Career
Sreenivasan debuted in the 1976
P. A. Backer
P. A. Backer ( ml, പി.എ. ബക്കർ; 1940 – 22 November 1993) was one of the new-wave Malayalam film directors of the 1970s and 1980s.
Life sketch
Backer was born in 1940 to Ahamed Musliar and Fathima of Kanippayyoor near Kunnamkul ...
movie ''
Manimuzhakkam''. His first hero role was ''
Sanghaganam
''Sanghaganam'' () is a 1979 Indian Malayalam-language political drama film directed by P. A. Backer based on a story by M. Sukumaran and starring Sreenivasan, Ramu Karyat, P. R. Nambyar and Madhu Master.
Plot
An unemployed youth decides to pr ...
'' (1979). At film school, he was enrolled by Aniyeri Prabhakaran, who later cast him in ''
Mela'' (1980). In 1984, Sreenivasan wrote his first film, ''
Odaruthammava Aalariyam''. He both wrote and acted in ''
Varavelpu
''Varavelpu'' () is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language black comedy film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Sreenivasan, starring Mohanlal, Revathi, Sreenivasan, Thilakan, Murali, Innocent, and Jagadish. The film was produced by K. Rajag ...
'', ''
Gandhinagar 2nd Street
''Gandhinagar 2nd Street'' is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Sreenivasan from a story by Anthikad. It stars Mohanlal in the lead role, with Karthika, Seema, Sreenivasan, Thilak ...
'', ''
Nadodikkattu
''Nadodikkattu'' () is a 1987 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Sreenivasan based on a story by the Siddique–Lal duo. It stars Mohanlal and Sreenivasan in the lead roles, along with an ...
'' and its two sequels, ''
Pattanapravesham
''Pattanapravesham'' () is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language detective comedy film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Sreenivasan. It stars Mohanlal, Sreenivasan, Karamana Janardhanan Nair, Ambika and Thilakan in the lead roles. It is a ...
,'' and ''
Akkare Akkare Akkare
''Akkareyakkareyakkare'', also known ''Akkare Akkare Akkare'' () is a 1990 Indian Malayalam-language buddy cop comedy film directed by Priyadarshan and written by Sreenivasan. It stars Mohanlal, Sreenivasan, M. G. Soman, Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Ra ...
''. As a director he filmed ''
Vadakkunokkiyanthram'' and ''
Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala
''Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala '' (English language, English: ''Shyamala lost in thought'') is a 1998 Malayalam cinema, Malayalam black comedy, black comedy film written and directed by Sreenivasan, starring Sangita Madhavan Nair, Sangita, Sreeniva ...
''. His comedies include ''
Aram + Aram = Kinnaram
Aram may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Aram'' (film), 2002 French action drama
* Aram, a fictional character in Japanese manga series '' MeruPuri''
* Aram Quartet, an Italian music group
* ''Aram'' (Kural book), the first of the three ...
'', ''
Kinnaripuzhayoram
''Kinnaripuzhayoram'' is a 1994 Malayalam romantic comedy film directed by Haridas and screenplay written by Girish Puthenchery and story by Priyadarshan. It stars Sreenivasan, Siddique, Thilakan, Devayani, Jagathy Sreekumar, Mukesh and Janar ...
'', ''
Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu
''Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu'' () is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language comedy film directed by Priyadarshan and written by Sreenivasan from a story by Jagadish. It stars an ensemble cast led by Mohanlal, Mukesh, Sreenivasan, Jagathi Sreekum ...
'',
Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu,
Artham
''Artham'' () is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language crime film directed by Sathyan Anthikkad and written by Venu Nagavally. It stars Mammootty, Sreenivasan, Murali, Saranya, in lead roles along with Parvathy, Mamukkoya, Philomina, Mohan Raj, Thi ...
,
Azhakiya Ravanan
''Azhakiya Ravanan'' (Handsome Ravanan) is a 1996 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy-drama film directed by Kamal and written by Sreenivasan. The film has an ensemble cast of Mammootty, Bhanupriya, Sreenivasan, Innocent, Biju Menon, ...
,
Chithram
''Chithram'' () is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language screwball comedy film written and directed by Priyadarshan. The film was produced by P. K. R. Pillai under his production house Shirdi Sai Creations, and stars Mohanlal, Ranjini, Nedumudi V ...
etc.'
Personal life
His younger son,
Dhyan Sreenivasan
Dhyan Sreenivasan (born 20 December 1988) is an Indian actor, and film director who works in Malayalam films. He made his acting debut with ''Thira'' (2013), directed by his elder brother Vineeth Sreenivasan. , made his debut in ''
Thira
Santorini ( el, Σαντορίνη, ), officially Thira (Greek: Θήρα ) and classical Greek Thera (English pronunciation ), is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) southeast from the Greek mainland. It is the ...
'', a thriller movie directed by his brother.
Awards and honours
Filmography
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sreenivasan
Malayalam comedians
Indian male film actors
Kerala State Film Award winners
Living people
Malayalam film directors
Malayalam screenwriters
Male actors from Kerala
Male actors from Kannur
People from Thalassery
Male actors in Malayalam cinema
Filmfare Awards South winners
Malayalam film producers
1951 births
Indian male comedians
20th-century Indian film directors
M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute alumni
Film producers from Kerala
Film directors from Kerala
Screenwriters from Kerala
20th-century Indian male actors