Since Monday night , when it was announced that actor, movie maker, writer and intellectual Sreenivasan has been admitted to a corporate hospital at Angamali in Ernakulam district, the entire population in the State went on a prayer mode.
Sreenivasan, who celebrated his 66th birthday on Monday is not an ordinary movie star or film maker. He enjoys the status of a cult figure and his words and actions are followed keenly even by superstars Mohan Lal and Mammootty. The films made by Sreenivasan are mirrors held before the viewers and the latter sees in it his/her own true image.
By Thursday morning, it was announced by the hospital authorities that Sreenivasan is recovering fast after a cardiac surgery. Kannur-born Sreenivasan had been diagnosed with heart ailments and that was one of the reasons he shifted to Kochi from Chennai- the village ambience, climate and the emergency medical facilities being the other factors.
Sathyan Anthikkadu, the numero uno movie maker in Malayalam, who enjoys a unique chemistry with Sreenivasan, told The Pioneer that the actor was fine. “He is on ventilator support because of difficulty in breathing. But doctors told that there was nothing to worry and the ventilator would be taken off in the next one or two days,” Sathyan told The Pioneer. Sathyan-Sreenivasan team that has presented some of the all time classics in Malayalam filmdom is coming alive in the soon to be released film MAKAL (Daughter).
For the last few years, the actor , well respected for his critical comments about cultural and social spheres of Kerala, has been keeping away from the glare of media. It was disclosed by doctors attending to him that Sreenivasan had suffered a cardiac arrest and they rushed him to the hospital for an emergency cardiac surgery.
Hailing from Patyam, a CPI(M) controlled village in Kannur district where anything not in line with the party’s way of thinking is anathema, Sreenivasan questioned the party diktats and way of functioning through his write-ups and scripts. He has portrayed characters like ‘Cuba’ Mukundan and Comrade Kattapalli, hardcore CPI(M) leaders and earned respect from all walks of life. Despite criticising the party, Sreenivasan continues to be an ardent follower of the CPI(M). His two sons, Vineet and Dhyan too have carved out images of their own in Malayalam films making the Sreenivasans Kerala’s first family in entertainment industry.