Sreenivasan

Sreenivasan (born 6 April 1956) is an Indian film actor, screenwriter, director and producer who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. 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 films 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-produced Katha Parayumpol (2007) and Thattathin Marayathu (2012) under the banner Lumiere Film Company, along with actor Mukesh.

Early life
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 Kuthuparamba 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, Chennai.

Career
Sreenivasan debuted in the 1977 P. A. Backer movie Manimuzhakkam. 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, 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.

Personal life
Sreenivasan is married to Vimala, a school teacher (retired). His elder son, Vineeth Sreenivasan, is a director, lyricist, playback singer, dubbing artist and actor. His younger son, Dhyan Sreenivasan, made his debut in Thira, a thriller movie directed by his brother. Dhyan's directorial debut Love Action Drama was a romantic comedy genre movie starring Nivin Pauly and Nayanthara.