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Remembering him now, the family speaks not of awards or stardom, but of humility, intellect, and kindness
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Sreenivasan, they say, lived and wrote like the common man he so often portrayed—leaving behind not just cinematic brilliance, but a legacy of genuine human connection
The passing of legendary Malayalam actor, screenwriter, director, and producer Sreenivasan has left millions of admirers mourning a cultural icon. For one Indian expatriate family in Sharjah, however, the loss is deeply personal, rooted in a friendship that spanned more than five decades and transcended fame, distance, and time, reported gulfnews.com.
For Pooja Jenson, an admissions officer at a British school in Sharjah, the news of Sreenivasan’s death struck close to home. Her father, Cyriac Philip, a retired assistant bank manager currently visiting Sharjah, shared a close bond with the filmmaker dating back to their college days in the early 1970s in Kannur, Kerala. What began as a campus friendship slowly grew into a lifelong connection between two families.
Their association started at Pazhassi Raja NSS College in Mattannur, where Cyriac enrolled as a commerce student. Sreenivasan, already known on campus for his wit, writing, and theatre talent, had completed his degree earlier and later returned to work at the college canteen. Daily interactions soon turned into lasting camaraderie. Weekend gatherings, shared meals, and visits to family homes strengthened their bond, even as life took them in different directions.
As Sreenivasan pursued varied roles—teaching, managing family responsibilities, and eventually moving to Chennai to study acting—the friendship endured. Cyriac, meanwhile, built his career in banking, with postings across cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mysuru. Though periods of silence came with changing responsibilities, the two always found their way back to each other through letters, phone calls, and unexpected reunions.
Over the years, Sreenivasan remained closely connected to Cyriac’s family, visiting their homes, attending family milestones, and hosting them in return. Pooja recalls these visits vividly, remembering his warmth, simplicity, and the ease with which he blended into family life despite his growing stature in cinema. For her, he was never a celebrity, but “Sreeni uncle.”
The last meeting between the old friends took place in August 2023 at Sreenivasan’s home in Kochi. What was meant to be a short visit turned into hours of conversation, laughter, and reflection. Even while battling illness, Sreenivasan spoke passionately about ideas, society, and stories he still hoped to tell.
