Kalidas on his dad Jayaram’s absence Sreenivasan’s funeral: ‘They know what their equation is; do not have to explain’

Malayalam filmmaker-screenwriter-actor Sreenivasan passed away on December 20, 2025. While the who’s who of cinema, including Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Tamil actor Suriya, among others, arrived for the funeral and paid their final respects, actor Jayaram’s absence led to much online discourse. Jayaram’s absence, given that he has worked with Sreenivasan in multiple films, led to outrage on social media. Son and actor Kalidas Jayaram has finally addressed the criticism. Following the passing of Sreenivasan, Jayaram explained that he couldn’t be at the funeral due to his filming commitment in Chennai. However, that only led to further online attacks. Talking to Galatta Plus, Kalidas said that the online backlash was misplaced. He spoke about the rapport that his father shared with late Sreenivasan, and added that even he was not aware of why his father could not take part in the function."I feel like there is so much hatred circulating around social media and other platforms. Internet users spread hate-filled comments just for the sake of it through their anonymous accounts," Kalidas Jayaram said. The ‘Raayan’ actor added that no explanation is required about the bond his dad shared with Sreenivasan. "They know what their equation is; they do not have to explain it to anyone," he added.Frequent collaborators, especially in the 1990s, Jayaram and Sreenivasan were co-stars in many films, including 'Sandesham', 'Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu', and 'Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam'. Jayaram has also acted in multiple films scripted by Sreenivasan. Meanwhile, on the film front, Jayaram and Kalidas are reuniting for an upcoming film, ‘Ashakal Aayiram’. The film is helmed by G Prajith and is slated for release on February 6 in theatres worldwide.