Dhyan Sreenivasan’s candour can be attributed to his genes. Sreenivasan was very good at calling a spade a spade. Even recently, despite his deteriorating health, the writer, director, and actor lashed out against his contemporaries. It is also true that Sreenivasan, who has written some of the finest satires in Malayalam cinema, eventually descended to Juvenalian satire to attack his contemporaries.

Dhyan Sreenivasan, who debuted in his brother Vineeth Sreenivasan’s Thira has done over 24 films, and except for showing some flair in comedy (Kunjiramayanam, Adi Kapyare Kootamani), there isn’t much to write home about. So it is ironic that today he is one of the most saleable faces on the internet. And that shift happened in the middle of 2022, coinciding with the invasion of obscure online platforms, anchored by college pass-outs/RJs. Since these online platforms are under no obligation to uphold the virtue of media ethics, they go all out, generating every form of irreverent content to garner views. The questions will range from your first kiss, the cost of your outfit, and your favourite ice cream flavour to what’s in your bag, and many celebrities surprisingly seem to enjoy this free-wheeling space. Perhaps they create a vibe that disentangles them from the pressure of sounding perceptive or insightful while interacting with seasoned journalists.

And this has catapulted Dhyan Sreenivasan into the status of an “interview superstar.” The actor, realising the potential of washing one’s dirty linen in public, has since been relentless when it comes to sharpening his “wares” on such public platforms. For the public, what Dhyan Sreenivasan offers is nothing less than voyeuristic delight. So when he sits there and spills........

© Mathrubhumi English