Kochi, Dec 21

Kerala on Sunday bade a tearful farewell to veteran actor, screenwriter and director Sreenivasan, who died on Saturday at a government hospital near Kochi. He was 69.

Thousands of admirers from across the state gathered at his residence in Kandanadu near Tripunithura from early morning to pay their last respects to one of Malayalam cinema’s most influential creative voices.

Tamil actor Suriya, ministers, political leaders, Malayalam actor Mukesh and filmmaker Sathyan Anthikkad a close friend and long-time collaborator were among those who paid homage.

Emotional scenes were witnessed as the mortal remains were taken for cremation. In a symbolic tribute to Sreenivasan’s lifelong devotion to writing, Anthikkad placed a pen and paper bearing the message “may good things happen to everyone” on the body.

His elder son Vineeth lit the funeral pyre at the family residence, in the presence of his younger son Dhyan. The cremation was conducted with full state honours, with police deploying additional personnel to manage the large crowd.

Congress general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi condoled his death, saying his humane storytelling and sharp wit enriched Indian cinema and touched countless hearts.

Sreenivasan, a towering figure in Malayalam cinema as an actor, writer and director, had been undergoing treatment for health issues and had undergone heart surgery in 2022. He was being taken for dialysis when he developed breathing difficulties and was shifted to the Government Taluk Hospital in Tripunithura, where he passed away.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, cabinet colleagues, legislators, MPs and leading figures from the film industry, including superstars Mohanlal and Mammootty, had earlier paid their respects when his body was kept for public homage at the Town Hall in Kochi on Saturday.