‘He has by no means offended anybody despite his criticism on Communism or any ‘isms’.’

IMAGE: Sreenivasan in Priyadarshan’s Megham.

Priyadarshan describes the late Sreenivasan because the’ Satire King’ of Kerala.

They labored in essentially the most movies collectively, and highlighted Sreenivasan’s expertise as an actor and a write.

Priyadarshan appears to be like again at his affiliation together with his buddy, and tells Subhash Ok Jha, “He was an erudite man, an incorrigible humourist, a voracious reader, with a lot imaginative and prescient on politics and social points.”

Your affiliation with Sreenivasan isn’t just as actor-director, however he additionally co-wrote a few of your earlier movies.

Not solely co-wrote, he wrote lots of my movies.

I’ve carried out round 21 movies with him.

Greater than something, he was an erudite man, an incorrigible humourist, a voracious reader, with a lot imaginative and prescient on politics and social points.

He had a lethal sense of humour.

He has by no means offended anybody despite his criticism on Communism or any ‘isms’.

No person turned in opposition to him for his vital satire due to his sense of humour.

The socio-political criticism was hard-hitting however he used to melt the blow it together with his humour, dilute the lethal affect with unbelievable sense of wit.

Did you utilize his political commentary or simply his sense of humour in your cinema?

No, no, lots of our movies had been concerning the social problems with Kerala.

IMAGE: Sreenivasan with Mohanlal in Priyadarshan’s Akkare Akkare Akkare.

Did you first know him as an actor or as a author?

Each. His mixture withlal was talked about in these days.

He has directed solely two movies, however these two movies are purported to be classics.

Did you share a bond past cinema with him?

We had a terrific relationship, extra like mates than as filmmakers.

Initially, after I began doing slapstick humour, he’s the one who instructed me, ‘Why cannot we use humour to handle social points?’

He was often called the Satire King of Kerala.

His political humour was akin to R Ok Laxman’s.

Political satire is a really, very troublesome style however even a rickshaw-driver might perceive Sreenivasan’s humour. He would write so nicely!

Political satire will offend somebody, so he did get threats. However on the identical time, individuals smiled at it.

When was the primary time you labored with him?

I met him by way of Mammootty as a result of he was Mammootty’s buddy.

He was struggling at the moment.

He says it’s I who made him a author. So, at any time when he received an award, he stated it belonged to Priyan.

Are you aware why?

Why?

As a result of at first, he was struggling to be an actor. He did not need to be a author.

As soon as I received caught in a script, and he got here to my rescue, albeit very reluctantly.

He was doing small movies at the moment, not working very a lot.

I had simply began my profession then.

I requested him if he needed to behave.

He stated sure.

So I gave him an ultimatum: If you wish to act, you must write.

IMAGE: Sreenivasan in Priyadarshan’s Thenmavin Kombath.

How do you know there was a author inside him?

As a result of I knew him.

We used to debate, and he used to place ahead his concepts with nice readability and curiosity.

See, he by no means wrote in these days, however he used to sit down and provides strategies to writers.

I discovered he is higher than these writers.

However then, after I was determined, I stated, in the event you write, you may get an excellent position.

He stated, you possibly can write it your self.

I had a plot then, and the shoot was about to start out in 5 days.

He instructed me, I am unable to write, I am not a author.

So I stated, go residence then. You aren’t getting a task until you write.

So what was his response?

He stated, I can go residence. However my challenge is, I’ve nothing to do at residence. So it is higher that I write.

He had an unbelievable sense of humour.

Lately, about 10 days in the past, he fell down.

I instructed him, ‘Sreeni, we’re each turning into previous, now we have to watch out.’

He says, ‘I used to be cautious, however what about this ground? At the least, the ground ought to perceive an previous man is strolling, no?’

He might see humour in each state of affairs.

Do you assume he was a greater author than an actor?

Sure, regardless that he acted greater than he wrote.

Director Nandikar and I labored within the most quantity movies with Sreenivasan.

Priyan, you may have labored with so many good artists, whether or not it’s actors, writers, musicians. Have they enriched your life?

Sure, undoubtedly. Movie shouldn’t be a one-man job, it’s a crew effort.

You want robust individuals to help your movie.

I by no means name it ‘my’ movie, I name it ‘our’ movie.

You want people who find themselves higher than you so that you can be taught and go ahead.

Mine is a journey of 40 years and 98 movies.

Generally, they labored and typically, they flopped.

I do not care about that as a result of that’s what I needed to do. Once I contact 100, I’ll say goodbye to cinema.

Possibly one other 100 after that?

No, I will not direct. Possibly I’ll write.

Pictures curated by Satish Bodas/Rediff