The 37th birthday of actor Dhyan Sreenivasan turned into a day of profound grief as he received the devastating news of his father's passing. Veteran Malayalam actor and acclaimed writer Sreenivasan breathed his last on the morning of Saturday, December 20, 2025, after a prolonged battle with illness.
A Birthday Overshadowed by Loss
Instead of celebrations, the day was marked by mourning for Dhyan and his entire family. Sreenivasan, aged 75, was undergoing treatment at his residence in Udayamperoor when he passed away around 8:30 a.m. Reports indicate that Dhyan was not present in the city at the time of the tragedy. He was in Kozhikode for a film shoot when the heartbreaking news reached him.
The actor, who lives in Kochi with his wife, child, and extended family, immediately returned to be with his kin. The mortal remains of Sreenivasan were brought to his residence in Kandanad, Ernakulam. Following this, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the body was kept for public homage at the Ernakulam Town Hall, allowing fans and well-wishers to pay their final respects.
Recalling a Complex Father-Son Bond
Dhyan Sreenivasan has, in the past, spoken candidly about his multifaceted and sometimes turbulent relationship with his illustrious father. While Sreenivasan shared a calm and disciplined bond with his elder son, actor-director Vineeth Sreenivasan, his equation with Dhyan experienced notable ups and downs.
During a media interaction at the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL) in 2024, Dhyan recalled a particularly painful incident. He recounted, "That day when I reached home, my father was drunk. He blamed me for all my failures and kept talking about how much money he had spent on raising me. He told me, 'First return the money I spent on you, and only then speak.'"
In the same conversation, Dhyan described his father as a 'Typical Malayali dad', referencing a certain arrogance common among writers, a trait he included both himself and his father in possessing. He expressed a longing for more patient dialogue, stating, "Why can't he just sit with me and talk things out calmly?"
Final Journey and Funeral Arrangements
The film industry and countless admirers across Kerala are in mourning. The final rites for the veteran actor are scheduled to be held on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 10 a.m. The funeral will take place at his family residence in Kandanad.
Sreenivasan leaves behind a rich legacy in Malayalam cinema as a versatile actor and a writer known for his sharp, socially relevant scripts. His passing marks the end of an era, leaving a void in the hearts of family, colleagues, and fans alike. The industry remembers him not just for his on-screen brilliance but also for the memorable characters he created through his writing.
