Malayalam actor, director and scriptwriter Sreenivasan was hospitalised on Wednesday following breathing difficulties. He was put on ventilator support at the Intensive Care Unit of the Medical Center Hospital in Ernakulam. A team of doctors, including a cardiologist attended to the Malayalam film industry veteran.
Speaking to TNM, the ICU duty doctor Gautham Chandran said, "He showed symptoms of a small heart failure, with water filling the lungs and high BP. We have given medicines to bring down the BP and moved him to ventilator support. There's a small improvement but as long as he's on ventilator support, we need to monitor him carefully. For at least 24 hours. We are waiting for more details. We have briefed his immediate relatives."
Sreenivasan was admitted to hospital in January last year, with media reports claiming that he had suffered a stroke. However, his son, actor, director and producer Vineeth Sreenivasan took to Facebook to say that Sreenivasan had been admitted due to variations in blood sugar levels and that he was out of danger.
Sreenivasan, who is from Kannur, was last seen in the 2018 Sathyan Anthikad film Njan Prakashan starring Fahadh Faasil. He was also the writer of the film. Sreenivasan and Sathyan Anthikad have together given the audience memorable films like Sandesham, Thalayanamanthram, Nadodikaatu, Gandhinagar 2nd Street and many more. Priyadarshan is another director with whom Sreenivasan has had a long association.
The actor-director has won several awards for his work, including the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film in 1989 for Vadakkunokkiyantram, and National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues in 2000 for Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala. He has also won a Filmfare Award for Best Director – Malayalam for Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala, besides bagging a Filmfare Award for Best Film – Malayalam in 2008 for Katha Parayumbol.
In September 2017, Sreenivasan was in the news, after he came out in support of his colleague Dileep, who was in judicial custody for his alleged role in the abduction and sexual assault of a Malayalam actor. Following this, Sreenivasan’s house was vandalised, with black oil being smeared on both sides of the front gate and on the name board of the house.
At the time, he said, "I did not support Dileep. I merely said that having known Dileep for so many years, I don't believe he could have done something so heinous. The police can prove the crime. But if those who speak for him are influencing the case and witnesses, then aren't those who are against him also not influencing the case with their statements?"
Sreenivasan is married to retired teacher Vimala and has two sons, Vineeth and Dhyan, both of whom work in the Malayalam film industry.