{{Short description|Indian actor (1956–2010)}} {{other people|Srinath}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Sreenath | image = Sreenath.jpg | image_size = | birth_name = {{nowrap|Sreenath Thoppil Inchora}} | birth_date = {{Birth date|1956|8|26}} | birth_place = [[Kuzhur]], [[Kerala]], India | death_date = {{death date and age |2010|04|23|1956|08|26|df=yes}} | death_place = [[Kothamangalam]], Kerala, India | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1978–2010 | spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|[[Shanthi Krishna]]|1984|1995|end=divorce}}|{{marriage|Latha Sreenath|1999|2010}}}} | children = 1 | awards = [[Kerala State Television Award for Best Actor| Kerala State Television Awards]] }}
{{Given name hatnote|Sreenath|Thoppil Inchora|lang=Malayali}}'''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 who played both lead and supporting roles in numerous [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam]] and a few [[Tamil cinema|Tamil films]]. He was noted for his good looks and was considered a handsome leading man during the early phase of his career.<ref name=kk>{{cite news |title=They lived like an ideal couple, but later got separated; Mohanlal-starrer movie led to Sreenath's death?' |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=1490453&u=they-lived-like-an-ideal-couple-but-later-got-separated-mohanlal-starrer-movie-led-to-sreenaths-death |publisher=Kerala Kaumudi |lang=ml |date=1 March 2025}}</ref> His first Tamil movie, ''[[Rail Payanangalil]]'', was a super hit and ran in theatres for 175 days.<ref name="Nizhal Magazine">{{cite web |last1=Thinnai |first1=Puthu |title=வெள்ளி விழா கண்ட தமிழ் திரைப்படங்கள் |url=https://puthu.thinnai.com/2017/03/20/வெள்ளி-விழா-கண்ட-தமிழ்-தி/ |website=Puthu Thinnai |date=20 March 2017 |publisher=N. Selvaraj |access-date=16 September 2025 |ref=Nizhal Magazine}}</ref> Some of his notable roles as a main lead include, ''[[Ithu Njangalude Katha]]'', [[Visa (film)|''Visa'']], ''[[Sathyam (1980 film)|''Sathyam'']]'', ''[[Swapnalokum]]''. He also played major supporting roles in ''[[Sarvakalashala]]'', ''[[Thoovanathumbikal]]'', ''[[Oru CBI Diary Kurippu]]'', ''[[Kireedam (1989 film)|Kireedam]]'', ''[[Mathilukal (film)|Mathilukal]]'', and ''[[Meghamalhar]]''.<ref name="toi_apr10">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thirupuram/Malayalam-actor-Sreenath-found-dead-in-hotel-room/articleshow/5847406.cms|title=Malayalam actor Sreenath found dead in hotel room|date=23 April 2010|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=24 April 2010}}</ref>
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 Award for Best Actor|Kerala State Television Awards]]'' for [[Kerala State Television Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] in 2000.
==Personal life==
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]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=7121935&programId=7940855&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3 |title=Manorama Online {{!}} Movies {{!}} History of Movie {{!}} |website=www.manoramaonline.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007110802/http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=7121935&programId=7940855&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3 |archive-date=2010-10-07}}</ref> He later married her at [[Guruvayoor Temple]] in September 1984. They parted ways in September 1995.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?articleType=Malayalam+Home&contentId=7117137&tabId=11&contentType=EDITORIAL|title=നടൻ ശ്രീനാഥിനെ മരിച്ച നിലയിൽ കണ്ടെത്തി|publisher=manoramaonline.com|access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref>
He married Latha in 1999. The couple have a son named Viswajith.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.keralakaumudi.com/news.php?nid=94d49543425c6b6f1f17938a7a9bf4f4|title=നക്ഷത്രമായില്ലെങ്കിലും|publisher=news.keralakaumudi.com|language=Malayalam|access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref>
== Film career == === Early Career and Breakthrough (1978-1984) === 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 (film)|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)|''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.<ref name=kk/>
=== Supporting and Character Roles (Late 1980s – 2000s) === 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 (1989 film)|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 (1999 film)|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==
Sreenath was a [[Shiv Sena]] candidate from the [[Attingal (Lok Sabha constituency)|Attingal Lok Sabha constituency]] in the [[2009 Indian general election|2009 Lok Sabha elections]].<ref name="toi_apr10" />
==Death== Sreenath was found dead with his wrists slashed in a hotel room in [[Kothamangalam, Ernakulam|Kothamangalam]] in Kerala on 23 April 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://movies.indiatimes.com/news-gossip/regional-/malayalam/Malayalam-actor-Sreenath-found-dead-in-hotel-room/articleshow/5847901.cms|title=Malayalam actor Sreenath found dead in hotel room|publisher=movies.indiatimes.com|access-date=23 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426142010/http://movies.indiatimes.com/news-gossip/regional-/malayalam/Malayalam-actor-Sreenath-found-dead-in-hotel-room/articleshow/5847901.cms|archive-date=26 April 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> 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 family suspected that he was murdered. The mystery about his death remains to this day.
==Accolades== {| class="wikitable" |+ |- ! Year !! Award !! Category !! Work !! Result !! Ref |- | 2000 || ''[[Kerala State Television Award for Best Actor|Kerala State Television Awards]]'' || [[Kerala State Television Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] || || {{won}}|| |}
==Filmography== ===Malayalam=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1978 || ''[[Shalini Ente Koottukari]]'' || Unnikrishnan || |- | 1979 || ''[[Manasa Vacha Karmana]]'' || Rameshan's friend || |- | rowspan=2 | 1980 || ''[[Sathyam (1980 film)|Sathyam]]'' || Ramakrishna Nair || |- | ''[[Kalika (film)|Kalika]]'' || Kariya || |- | rowspan=4 | 1981 || ''[[Arayannam]]'' || Vijayan || |- | ''[[Attimari]]'' || Babu || |- | ''[[Thaalam Manasinte Thaalam]]'' || || |- | ''[[Oothikachiya Ponnu]]'' || Dr. Samuel || |- | rowspan=3 | 1982 || ''[[Pooviriyum Pulari]]'' || Raghu || |- | ''[[Ithu Njangalude Katha]]'' || Raghu || |- | ''[[Chilanthivala]]'' || Suresh || |- | rowspan=7 | 1983 || ''[[Swapnalokum]]'' || || |- | ''[[Visa (film)|Visa]]'' || Balakrishnan || |- | ''[[Eenam]]'' || || |- | ''[[Kingini Kombu]]'' || || |- | ''Professor Janaki'' || || |- | ''[[Belt Mathai]]'' || Tony || |- | ''[[Saagaram Santham]]'' || Dr. Madan Mohan || |- | rowspan=8 | 1984 || ''[[NH 47 (film)|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 || |- | rowspan=6 | 1985 || ''[[Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya]]'' || Police Officer || |- | ''[[Snehicha Kuttathinu]]'' || Satheesh Chandran || |- | ''[[Aarodum Parayaruthu]]'' || || |- | ''[[Oru Nokku Kanan]]'' || || |- | ''Ayanam'' || Joy || |- | ''[[Koodum Thedi]]'' || Jayakumar || |- | rowspan=4 | 1986 || ''[[Oru Yugasandhya]]'' || Karunan || |- | ''[[Hello My Dear Wrong Number]]'' || SI Rajagopal || |- | ''[[Bhagavan (1986 film)|Bhagavan]]'' || || |- | ''[[Vivahithare Ithile]]'' || || |- | rowspan=10 | 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 || |- | rowspan=7 | 1988 || ''[[Moonnam Mura]]'' || DySP Raju || |- | ''Marikkunnila Njan'' || || |- | ''[[Kudumbapuranam]]'' || Sivan || |- | ''[[Oru CBI Diary Kurippu]]'' || Sunny || |- | ''[[Innaleyude Baakki]]'' || Balu || |- | ''[[Vicharana]]'' || Raghuvaran || |- | ''[[August 1 (film)|August 1]]'' || Gopi || |- | rowspan=8 | 1989 || ''[[Swagatham (1989 film)|Swagatham]]'' || Sajan || |- | ''[[Innale]]'' || Gafoor || |- | ''[[Douthyam]]'' || Shekhar || |- | ''Aazhikkoru Muthu'' || Chandran || |- | ''V. I. P.'' || Rajendran || |- | ''[[The News (film)|The News]]'' || Jeevan || |- | ''[[Kireedam (1989 film)|Kireedam]]'' || Keshu || |- | ''[[Adikkurippu]]'' || S. I. Raju || |- | rowspan=3 | 1990 || ''Enquiry'' || || |- | ''[[Naale Ennundengil]]'' || || |- | ''[[Mathilukal (film)|Mathilukal]]'' || Aniyan || |- | rowspan=2 | 1992 || ''[[Apaaratha]]'' || Sudhakaran || |- | ''[[Malootty]]'' || Raghavan || |- | rowspan=4 | 1993 || ''[[Ottayadipathakal]]'' || Anoop || |- | ''Sabarimalayil Thanka Sooriyodayam'' || || |- | ''[[Chenkol]]'' || Keshu || |- | ''[[Devaasuram]]'' || C. S. || |- | rowspan=4 | 1995 || ''[[Achan Kombathu Amma Varampathu]]'' || Balan || |- | ''Bali'' || || |- | ''[[Saadaram]]'' || Ravichandra Menon || |- | ''[[Maanthrikam]]'' || Kernel || |- | rowspan=2 | 1996 || ''[[Thooval Kottaram]]'' || Mathew || |- | ''[[Kaalapani]]'' || Satyasheelan, a prisoner || |- | rowspan=2 | 1999 || ''[[Vazhunnor]]'' || [[Advocate|Adv.]] Simon Thevakkattu|| |- | ''[[Agnisakshi (1999 film)|Agnisakshi]]'' || || |- | 2000 || ''[[Varnakkazhchakal]]'' || [[Advocate|Adv.]] Satheesh || |- | 2001 || ''[[Meghamalhar]]'' || Bhoominathan || |- | 2003 || ''Vasanthamallika'' || Balakrishnan's father || |- | 2004 || ''[[Sethurama Iyer CBI]]'' || Sunny || |- | 2006 || ''[[Balram vs. Tharadas]]'' || Jayakrishnan || |- | rowspan=2 | 2007 || ''[[Sketch (2007 film)|Sketch]]'' || || |- | ''The Trigger'' || || |- | rowspan=2 | 2009 || ''[[Bhagavan (2009 film)|Bhagavan]]'' || || |- | ''[[Kerala Cafe]]'' || Sajeevan || Segment: "Makal" |- |}
===Tamil=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | rowspan=2 | 1981 || ''[[Rail Payanangalil]]'' || N. Vasanth || |- | ''[[Chinna Mul Peria Mul]]'' || Dr. Arun || |- | 1983 || ''Kal Vadiyum Pookkal'' || || |- | 1987 || ''[[Poovizhi Vasalile]]'' || Micheal || Guest appearance |- |}
==Television serials== ===Malayalam=== *Samayam ([[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]]) *Ragamritham ([[DD Malayalam]]) *Snehadooram ([[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]]) *Sthree Janmam ([[Surya Tv]]) *[[Kadamattathu Kathanar (TV series)|Kadamathath Kathanaar]] ([[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]]) *Kanakkuyil ([[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]]) *Suryaputhri ([[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]]) *Ente Suryaputhri ([[Surya Tv]]) *Ente Manasaputhri ([[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]]) *Hello Kuttichathan ([[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]]) *[[Paarijatham (2008 TV series)|Paarijatham]] ([[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]]) *Akkare Ikkare ([[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]]) *Nirmalyam ([[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]]) *Police (ACV) *Mattoruval ([[Surya Tv]]) *Devimahathmyam (Asianet)
===Tamil=== *Ammavukku Kalyanam (DD) *[[Maharani (2009 TV series)|Maharani (TV series)]] ([[Vijay TV]])
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0820203}} * [http://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?category=actors&artist=Sreenath&limit=56 Sreenath at MSI]
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2010 deaths]] [[Category:1956 births]] [[Category:Male actors from Kerala]] [[Category:Actors from Thrissur district]] [[Category:Indian male film actors]] [[Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema]] [[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]] [[Category:Indian male television actors]] [[Category:Male actors in Malayalam television]] [[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]] [[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]] [[Category:2010 suicides]] [[Category:Male actors from Thrissur]] [[Category:Suicides in India]] [[Category:Artists who died by suicide]] [[Category:Suicides by sharp instrument in India]]