Veteran Malayalam Actress Savithri Sreedharan Dies

Veteran Malayalam actress Savithri Sreedharan died on 23 September 2026 at her residence in Mankavu, Kozhikode, Kerala. She was known for her work in Malayalam theatre and cinema, including the 2018 film Sudani from Nigeria.

Malayalam Cinema

Malayalam cinema is the film industry based in Kerala and is one of the major regional film industries in India. Savithri Sreedharan appeared in films such as Kadavu (1991), Valiyangadi (2010), Virus, Pada, Ittymani From China, Paappan, and Christy.

Theatre Career

Savithri Sreedharan had a theatre career spanning more than four decades. She was associated with Kozhikode-based theatre groups such as Kalimga, Sangamam, Stage India, and Chiranthana Theatres.

Awards and Recognition

She received a Special Mention at the 66th National Film Awards for Sudani from Nigeria. She also received the Kerala State Film Award for Best Character Actress, the Kerala government award for Best Theatre Artist in 1977 and 1993, and the Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Akademi Award for Drama in 2009.

Important Facts for Exams

• Sudani from Nigeria is a 2018 Malayalam film in which Savithri Sreedharan played the role of Jameela, the mother.

• The National Film Awards are among the highest film honours in India and are presented by the Directorate of Film Festivals.

• The Kerala State Film Awards recognise excellence in Malayalam cinema and are administered by the Government of Kerala.

• MT Vasudevan Nair was a noted Malayalam writer and filmmaker who scripted, directed, and produced Kadavu.

Public Life and Protest

In 2019, she joined a boycott of the National Film Awards ceremony with other members of the Sudani from Nigeria team. The boycott was linked to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act.