Sreenivasan Death News Live Updates: Family members, colleagues, fans bid emotional farewell to actor-screenwriter

Prithviraj's wife Supriya Menon took to her Instagram stories and wrote, "Grief is such a personal emotion. To see a grieving family not have any space to mourn their beloved is so tragic. Multitudes of cameras/mobile phones everywhere. Selfie takers in the corners, people pointing to the actors walking in. Many of whom are mourning their beloved colleague. Don’t the dead & the living they leave behind deserve better? What a spectacle every moment of life has become… Cannot imagine the pain of the family who are in the midst of this tragedy. Shouldn’t we self reflect & course correct? How much coverage is too much? Do we need to crowd around the last rites beaming it for everyone to see… a broken down family trying to say goodbye to their Beloved."

Actor and AMMA president Shwetha Menon posted on Instagram, "A few days ago, when I spoke to you, I had no idea that would be our last conversation. I’m still in shock. I can’t believe you’re gone. I honestly don’t know what to say. Going to miss you, Sreeniyetta. You’ll live on through your work, and in our hearts, always. om shanti shanti shanti."

Actor, screenwriter and filmmaker Sreenivasan laid to rest at his residence in Kandanad, Kochi.

Vineet Sreenivasan performs the last rites of his father Sreenivasan. The funeral is taking place at the actor-screenwriter's residence.

Siddique, Gokulam Gopalan, Renji Panicker, Nikhila Vimal attend the funeral of actor, screenwriter and filmmaker Sreenivasan.

Subtitler Vivek Ranjit took to Instagram and wrote, "Childhood. Foundation. Textbook in disguise. Baby steps into understanding Malayali's psyche. First film school. Malayalam cinema's treasure. Adieu, Master! As long as Kerala and Malayalis exist, your lines and thoughts will always be relevant and will continue to make us laugh and contemplate."

Actor Meera Vasudevan said via Instagram, "An icon, a legend.. Dear Srinivasan sir, such a great loss. My heartfelt condolences to your family. You and your family have treated me and mine with such warmth, love, respect and affection on every occasion that we have met. Your patient professionalism has had a huge impact on me as a professional too. I’m grateful to have had the wonderful opportunity to work with you and your family."

Music director Shaan Rahman’s note on Instagram read, “Today I saw Sreeni uncle for the last time. My heart broke when I saw him. During the Annual Day in Indian High School, RAK, the first song I ever sang on stage was Theeyiluruki. I was in 7th. Little did I know that I would meet his son one day and make movies together. Little did I know that I would be associated with he himself one day. It was all a dream come true. Dear Sreeni uncle, my greatest blessing is that I got to do music for your story Njan Prakashan. I will always hold it close to my heart. Always. And ofcourse the other movies like Malarvadi, Thattam, Aravindan, LAD etc… Where I got to see you do your magic before the world did. Malayalam Cinema will miss your writing and you. We all will miss you Sreeni uncle. Love and Respect, Nammal.”

Actor Navya Nair said via Instagram, "Rip sreeni uncle. A brilliant writer and a valiant human being, with an effortless sense of humour. Always upfront and honest in his words, never hesitant to speak his mind. I always looked at him with awe. Gone, but his words, warmth, and spirit will live on."

Actor and screenwriter Sreenivasan’s funeral will be held today at 10 am at his residence in Kandanad.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan pays his last respects to Sreenivasan at Ernakulam Town Hall.

Actor Manju Warrier posted on Instagram, "To transcend time is the most beautiful mark an artist can leave behind on this earth. Srinietta achieved this through writing, acting, and direction. Thus, not in one way but in many, and across generations, he continues to outlive time. I carry many personal memories. Srinietta, who would end everything he said with a loud laugh, is making me cry for the first time today. Yet, believing that it is only a body that has departed, and that the name will continue to live here in many forms for a long time to come, I offer my final homage."

Mohanlal, Sathyan Anthikkad, Dileep, Basil Joseph, Sai Kumar, Bindhu Panicker, Vishak Nair amd Roshan Mathew, among others, pay last respects to Sreenivasan at Ernakulam Town Hall.

Actor Urvashi told reporters, “I have had huge respect and love for him. He earnestly wanted me to excel in my work. I always wanted him to be healthy and well. He has left behind a lot of memories, stories and characters. He has written the best of my characters in films. I saw him last during the puja ceremony of a film in Ernakulam. We were all amused to see his excitement to remember old stories then."

Sharing a photo of Sreenivasan and her father Priyadarshan on Instagram, Kalyani Priyadarshan wrote, "I’ve always said that there are a few friendships I watched growing up that made me want to get into cinema and work the way my dad did. And one of them was undoubtedly theirs. I grew up loving his work. It was always around me, and without even realising it then, it became one of the reasons I chose this path. This feels like a loss for cinema… it feels like a loss for my family. Rest in peace, dear legend… you will always be cherished."

Actor Aju Varghese took to Instagram and wrote, "Farewell sir, the greatest. My textbook and reason to look upon on cinema. Fortunate to have started our career in your presence. May your soul rest in peace. Thank you."

Sreenivasan's mortal remains arrive at Ernakulam Town Hall. The public can pay their last respects to the actor-screenwriter here from 1 pm to 3 pm.

In a voice message, Rajinikanth said, "It is heartbreaking to hear that my dear friend Sreenivasan is no longer with us. He was my peer at the film institute where I studied. He was a remarkable actor and an exceptional person. May his soul find peace."

The last rites of actor-filmmaker Sreenivasan will be held at 10 am on December 21 at his residence premises.

Actor Vineeth's note on Instagram read, "My Dearest Sriniettan , I can’t digest reality that he is no more. Sriniettan was always a Guru figure and also a great friend to me. So many many fond memories and precious moments with the Legendary film personality. He was definitely a revolutionary in Malayalam cinema re defining humour and scripts with his incredible writing. An irreplaceable loss to our film industry. Had the blessing to do Oridathu, Gazal, Chambakkulam thachan, Samooham, Maanathey vellitheru as an actor with Sriniettan and so many stage programmes abroad and in India. Will miss him so much. Heartfelt condolences to his wife dear Vimala teacher, Vineeth, Dhyan and family members. Prayers and pranaams to the departed soul of Sriniettan to attain Sathgathi."

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a statement, “A towering talent who reached a leading position in every sphere of cinema has passed away. Very few filmmakers have succeeded the way he did in bringing the life of the common man to the silver screen and, through laughter and thought, taking the audience to levels of awareness he intended. Sreenivasan made his mark by breaking many long-standing conventions in cinema. For me personally, too, his passing is a loss. I remember us sitting together for an interview and how, through warm and humorous conversations, he earned a lasting place in my mind. Sreenivasan, who maintained a close and affectionate personal relationship, also came across as a symbol of love and friendship. Born and raised in Patyam in Kannur district, Sreenivasan’s life, in which he transformed his passion for cinema into reality through sheer effort, stands as a textbook lesson for those who believe in hard work."

Actor-producer Mammoottty arrives at Sreenivasan’s residence in Kandanad to pay his last respects.

Actor-filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran took to his Instagram Stories and wrote, "Adieu to one of the greatest ever writer/ director/actor! Thank you for the laughs and the thoughts! Rest in peace legend!"

Actors and filmmakers arrive at Sreenivasan’s residence in Kandanad, near Thrippunithura in Ernakulam, to pay their last respects

Screenwriter and actor Murali Gopy noted on Instagram, "Sreeni ettan’s humour was like a cane beating that peeled away pretence; and the misfortune of those pretences was that each blow forced laughter.”

Actor Indrajith took to his Instagram stories and wrote, "Always a part of my childhood core cinema memories! Was a pleasure sharing screen space and talking your lines in cinema. Thank you for all the laughs and the entertainment. Will miss you Sreeni etta."

In an interview with Manorama, filmmaker Kamal said, “I hold Sreenivasan the screenwriter in the highest regard. Through his scripts, he portrayed with seriousness and simplicity the unemployment and economic hardships faced by the youth. His ability to satirise hypocritical politics and social evils was unparalleled. Without limiting himself, he was always ready to take on diverse and challenging roles."

Actor Shyam Mohan shared on Instagram, "Never looked up to anyone this talented. An actor whose brilliance was often underrated. Appakkala and Thalathil Dineshan still says it all. A writer whose simplicity made the deepest impact. A true legend. Rest in peace, Sreenivasan sir. What a talent you were!"

Singer KS Chithra took to Instagram and wrote, "I am deeply saddened to hear about Sreenivas sir’s passing. I was fortunate enough to sing for so many of his movies. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time."

Veteran Malayalam actor, screenwriter, and filmmaker Sreenivasan died on Saturday after a prolonged illness. He was 69. Read more here.