National Award-winning Malayalam actor Savithri Sreedharan dies at 78

Malayalam theatre and cinema actor Savithri Sreedharan died at her Kozhikode residence. She was 78. The actor died due to age-related ailments. Minister for Agriculture of Kerala T Siddique condoled Savithri’s death in a Facebook post, describing it as an irreparable loss to the Malayalam art world.In his post, he wrote, “The demise of this beloved artiste, who left her own distinctive mark on both theatre and cinema, is an irreparable loss to the Malayalam art world. Heartfelt tributes,” he wrote.Savithri was best known for her memorable portrayal of Jamila in the critically acclaimed film Sudani from Nigeria. Her performance earned her the Kerala State Film Award for Best Character Actress, while she also received a Special Mention at the National Film Awards.Before making her mark in cinema, Savithri had been actively involved in professional theatre for more than four decades. Although Savithri made her film debut in 1991 with legendary writer-director MT Vasudevan Nair’s Kadavu, she did not immediately pursue a career in cinema. Instead, she remained a prominent figure in theatre, where she built a remarkable career spanning nearly five decades. Her work on stage earned her multiple Kerala State Awards for Best Stage Actress, as well as the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for Drama (Best Actress).Savithri returned to the big screen in 2010 with a small role in director Salim Baba’s Valiyangadi. However, it was her portrayal of Jameela in Sudani from Nigeria that brought her widespread recognition. Her performance earned her the Kerala State Film Award for Best Character Actress and a National Film Award Special Mention in the feature film category. Savithri later appeared in films such as Dakini, Mera Naam Shaji, Virus, Ittymaani: Made in China, Pada and Paappan. She was most recently seen in Pappan Narippatta’s Vayasethrayaayi Muppathiee (2024).Savithri was predeceased by her husband, Sreedharan, who died several years ago.- EndsPublished By: Prachi aryaPublished On: Sep 23, 2026 15:26 IST