Sreenath
Sreenath | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Sreenath Thoppil Inchora August 26, 1956 |
| Died | 23 April 2010 (aged 53) Kothamangalam, Kerala, India |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1978–2010 |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Kerala State Television Awards |
Sreenath Thoppil Inchora (26 August 1956 – 23 April 2010) was an Indian film and television actor. He was one of the prominent lead actors of the 1980s and has acted in both lead and supporting roles in numerous Malayalam films as well as a few Tamil films. He was noted for his striking good looks and was considered a handsome leading man during the early phase of his career.[1] His first Tamil movie, Rail Payanangalil, was a super hit and ran in theatres for 175 days.[2] Some of his notable roles as a main lead include, Ithu Njangalude Katha, Visa, Sathyam (1980 film), Swapnalokum, and he has also played major supporting roles in Sarvakalashala, Thoovanathumbikal, Oru CBI Diary Kurippu, Kireedam, Mathilukal, and Meghamalhar.[3]
He also acted in popular Television serials, including Samayam, Sthree Janmam, Ente Suryapthri, Ente Manasaputhri, and Paarijatham and is the recipient of Kerala State Television Awards for Best Actor in 2000.
Personal life
[edit]Early in his film career, he worked with actress Shanthi Krishna in a few hit movies and fell in love during the shoot of Ithu Njangalude Katha.[4] He later married her at Guruvayoor Temple in September 1984. They parted ways in September 1995.[5]
He married Latha in 1999. The couple have a son named Viswajith.[6]
Film Career
[edit]Early Career and Breakthrough (1978-1984)
[edit]Sreenath began his film career in the late 1970s making his debut with Shalini Ente Koottukari. He quickly rose to prominence as a leading actor and first gained attention with Kalika, where he acted as one of the leads alongside Sukumaran and Venu Nagavalli. He got his breakthrough role in Tamil cinema through the movie Rail Payanangalil directed by T.Rajendar, where he played the role of a singer. The film ran for 175 days in Tamil Nadu, and he later appeared in a few more Tamil movies. He then gained further recognition with movies like Attimari, where he was one of the main leads playing Babu, the son of veteran actor Prem Nazir, while Mohanlal, who later became a superstar, played the main antagonist. He also appeared as the main lead among five men opposite Shanthi Krishna in Ithu Njangalude Katha and the movie, along with its songs, was well received. In the movie Visa (film) he played the role of Balakrishnan, a typical Kerala youth who dreams of going abroad for a better life, a character that reflects the reality of society, where many young men aspire to improve their lives by working overseas. He was paired with Shanthi Krishna again in this film, and Mammootty, who later became a megastar, had an equally important role.[1]
Supporting and Character Roles (Late 1980s – 2000s)
[edit]As his career progressed, Sreenath shifted to playing supporting and character roles. He was noted for his performances in Thoovanathumbikal and Mathilukal, as well as for portraying Omana’s husband, Sunny, in Oru CBI Diary Kurippu, which ran for more than 100 days. He also played Mohanlal’s (Sethu’s) friend in Kireedam, In the new millennium, he delivered a remarkable performance as advocate Bhoominathan in Meghamalhar, a role that required maturity and was executed with sheer excellence. In addition to films, he focused on television acting, while continuing to appear occasionally in movies. He also completed a two-year acting program at the South Indian Film Chambers.
Some of his other popular films include, Mangalam Nerunnu, Sandhya Mayangum Neram, Itha Innu Muthal, Kaalapani, Devaasuram, Vazhunnor, Agnisakshi, and Varnakkazhchakal. Sreenath played an important role in the segment 'Makal' of the 2009 anthology Kerala Cafe, which consisted of 10 short films woven around a common theme. This was his last film.
Political Career
[edit]Sreenath was a Shiv Sena candidate from the Attingal Lok Sabha constituency in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.[3]
Death
[edit]Sreenath was found dead with his wrists slashed in a hotel room in Kothamangalam in Kerala on 23 April 2010.[7] He had been in Kothamangalam for the shooting of the Malayalam film Shikar. His body was later shifted to Thiruvananthapuram and cremated at Shanthikavadam Crematorium with full state honour. His death suspected as murder by his family. Mystery about his death remains to this day.
Accolades
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Kerala State Television Awards | Best Actor | Won |
Filmography
[edit]Malayalam
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Shalini Ente Koottukari | Unnikrishnan | |
| 1979 | Manasa Vacha Karmana | Rameshan's friend | |
| 1980 | Sathyam | Ramakrishna Nair | |
| Kalika | Kariya | ||
| 1981 | Arayannam | Vijayan | |
| Attimari | Babu | ||
| Thaalam Manasinte Thaalam | |||
| Oothikachiya Ponnu | Dr. Samuel | ||
| 1982 | Pooviriyum Pulari | Raghu | |
| Ithu Njangalude Katha | Raghu | ||
| Chilanthivala | Suresh | ||
| 1983 | Swapnalokum | ||
| Visa | Balakrishnan | ||
| Eenam | |||
| Kingini Kombu | |||
| Professor Janaki | |||
| Belt Mathai | Tony | ||
| Saagaram Santham | Dr. Madan Mohan | ||
| 1984 | NH 47 | Sunny | |
| Thacholi Thankappan | Basheer | ||
| Mangalam Nerunnu | Madhu | ||
| Sandhya Mayangum Neram | Mohan | ||
| Piriyilla Naam | Gopi | ||
| Itha Innu Muthal | Gopi/Jimmy Fernandez | ||
| Muthodu Muthu | Gopi | ||
| Odaruthammava Aalariyam | Govindan | ||
| 1985 | Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya | Police Officer | |
| Snehicha Kuttathinu | Satheesh Chandran | ||
| Aarodum Parayaruthu | |||
| Oru Nokku Kanan | |||
| Ayanam | Joy | ||
| Koodum Thedi | Jayakumar | ||
| 1986 | Oru Yugasandhya | Karunan | |
| Hello My Dear Wrong Number | SI Rajagopal | ||
| Bhagavan | |||
| Vivahithare Ithile | |||
| 1987 | Archanapookkal | ||
| Nirabedhangal | Balan | ||
| Amme Bhagavathi | Thirumeni | ||
| Vrutham | James Chacko | ||
| Sarvakalashala | Jeevan | ||
| Jaalakam | Anchal Sasi | ||
| Thoovanathumbikal | Madhavan | ||
| Irupatham Noottandu | Jeevan | ||
| Kaiyethum Doorathu | Murali | ||
| Ezhuthapurangal | Sreenivasan | ||
| 1988 | Moonnam Mura | DySP Raju | |
| Marikkunnila Njan | |||
| Kudumbapuranam | Sivan | ||
| Oru CBI Diary Kurippu | Sunny | ||
| Innaleyude Baakki | Balu | ||
| Vicharana | Raghuvaran | ||
| August 1 | Gopi | ||
| 1989 | Swagatham | Sajan | |
| Innale | Gafoor | ||
| Douthyam | Shekhar | ||
| Aazhikkoru Muthu | Chandran | ||
| V. I. P. | Rajendran | ||
| The News | Jeevan | ||
| Kireedam | Keshu | ||
| Adikkurippu | S. I. Raju | ||
| 1990 | Enquiry | ||
| Naale Ennundengil | |||
| Mathilukal | Aniyan | ||
| 1992 | Apaaratha | Sudhakaran | |
| Malootty | Raghavan | ||
| 1993 | Ottayadipathakal | Anoop | |
| Sabarimalayil Thanka Sooriyodayam | |||
| Chenkol | Keshu | ||
| Devaasuram | C. S. | ||
| 1995 | Achan Kombathu Amma Varampathu | Balan | |
| Bali | |||
| Saadaram | Ravichandra Menon | ||
| Maanthrikam | Kernel | ||
| 1996 | Thooval Kottaram | Mathew | |
| Kaalapani | Satyasheelan, a prisoner | ||
| 1999 | Vazhunnor | Adv. Simon Thevakkattu | |
| Agnisakshi | |||
| 2000 | Varnakkazhchakal | Adv. Satheesh | |
| 2001 | Meghamalhar | Bhoominathan | |
| 2003 | Vasanthamallika | Balakrishnan's father | |
| 2004 | Sethurama Iyer CBI | Sunny | |
| 2006 | Balram vs. Tharadas | Jayakrishnan | |
| 2007 | Sketch | ||
| The Trigger | |||
| 2009 | Bhagavan | ||
| Kerala Cafe | Sajeevan | Segment: "Makal" |
Tamil
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Rail Payanangalil | ||
| Chinna Mul Peria Mul | Dr. Arun | ||
| 1983 | Kal Vadiyum Pookkal | ||
| 1987 | Poovizhi Vasalile | Micheal | Guest appearance |
Television serials
[edit]Malayalam
[edit]- Samayam (Asianet)
- Ragamritham (DD Malayalam)
- Snehadooram (Asianet)
- Sthree Janmam (Surya Tv)
- Kadamathath Kathanaar (Asianet)
- Kanakkuyil (Asianet)
- Suryaputhri (Asianet)
- Ente Suryaputhri (Surya Tv)
- Ente Manasaputhri (Asianet)
- Hello Kuttichathan (Asianet)
- Paarijatham (Asianet)
- Akkare Ikkare (Asianet)
- Nirmalyam (Asianet)
- Police (ACV)
- Mattoruval (Surya Tv)
- Devimahathmyam (Asianet)
Tamil
[edit]- Ammavukku Kalyanam (DD)
- Maharani (TV series) (Vijay TV)
References
[edit]- ^ a b "They lived like an ideal couple, but later got separated; Mohanlal-starrer movie led to Sreenath's death?'" (in Malayalam). Kerala Kaumudi. 1 March 2025.
- ^ Thinnai, Puthu (20 March 2017). "வெள்ளி விழா கண்ட தமிழ் திரைப்படங்கள்". Puthu Thinnai. N. Selvaraj. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ a b "Malayalam actor Sreenath found dead in hotel room". The Times of India. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ^ "Manorama Online | Movies | History of Movie |". www.manoramaonline.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2010.
- ^ "നടൻ ശ്രീനാഥിനെ മരിച്ച നിലയിൽ കണ്ടെത്തി". manoramaonline.com. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ "നക്ഷത്രമായില്ലെങ്കിലും" (in Malayalam). news.keralakaumudi.com. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ "Malayalam actor Sreenath found dead in hotel room". movies.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.