Sreenivasan needed just two films to cement his legacy as a director

Srinivasan once quipped in his trademark sarcastic tone, “The five hundred films I did not do are my greatest contribution to Malayalam cinema.”

Staying true to that philosophy, the talented filmmaker directed only two films about a decade apart. It wasn’t that he didn’t have the ability to direct more, but it seemed to be a conscious decision to stop at two, with the belief that those films alone would leave a lasting impression. He did just that, winning six state awards and remaining relevant decades later.

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VadakkunokkiyantramHis directorial debut came in 1989, five years after he ventured into screenwriting with Priyadarshan’s film. Odaruthammav AalariyamBy then, it was already on its way to becoming a brand in that field, Apart from writing and directing, Sreenivasan also took the responsibility of portraying the lead role Thalathil Dinesh, a husband who feels inferior to his good-looking wife and is always suspicious of her,

The decision to play that character was not surprising, given that from the beginning, Sreenivasan was fond of playing self-deprecating roles, especially those he wrote himself. The film depicts the plight of women trapped in toxic relationships and highlights mental health through humour. It captured the imagination of audiences so deeply that it continues to be discussed even 35 years after its release. To this day, suspected husbands are colloquially referred to as ‘Thalthil Dineshan’. The film also won three state awards including Best Film.

Srinivasan waited for almost a decade before taking up the role of a director again anxious brunette in 1998. The film opens with a shot typical of his style – full of sarcasm and sarcasm – where only the characters’ dialogue can be heard while the screen is shrouded in darkness. Then the sound of a cat is heard, over which Sreenivasan’s character Vijayan asks his children if the “power cut cat” is still alive, a witty satire on the frequent load shedding of those times.

The film tells the story of an indolent middle-aged man who, after trying his hand at various activities, takes refuge in what he claims to be spiritualism as a ploy to escape his responsibilities. It ends with the protagonist making a course correction, realizing that self-discovery goes through several stages, from rebellion and atheism to spiritualism. The film won three state awards including Best Film and Best Director.