'Hari Murali was a very smart boy': Rasikan director Lal Jose recalls his last meeting with the late Malayalam child actor. All you need to know about his family

The Malayalam film and television industry is currently mourning the sudden death of former child actor Hari Murali. The 27-year-old was reportedly found dead at his residence in Annur, near Payyannur, leaving everyone in shock. The cause of his death has not yet been confirmed. As news of his passing spread, several members of the film fraternity shared memories of the young actor, remembering his early contributions to Malayalam cinema.

Who was Hari Murali?

Hari Murali became widely known as a child artist after appearing in the 2004 film Rasikan, directed by Lal Jose and starring Dileep. In the film, he played the younger brother of Dileep’s character and impressed audiences with his natural screen presence. Though young at the time, he made a lasting impression on viewers and those who worked with him on the film.



Born into a family closely connected with the performing arts. He was the son of noted theatre artist Payyannur Murali and Prasanna. Growing up in such an environment naturally sparked his interest in acting from a very young age. Before making his film debut, Hari had already begun his acting journey through a television serial directed by A. M. Naseer. His appearance in Rasikan soon brought him recognition as a promising child actor in the Malayalam film industry.

Lal Jose recalls meeting Hari when he grew up

Director Lal Jose recently shared his memories of working with the late actor and expressed deep sadness over the news of his death. Speaking to Manorama Online, the filmmaker said he was heartbroken upon hearing of Hari Murali’s passing.

Recalling the shooting days of Rasikan, Lal Jose described Hari as an intelligent and lively child who brought energy to the set. According to the director, the young actor often entertained the crew with his jokes and curious questions. Lal Jose also noted that one of the memorable drama scenes in the film was performed beautifully by Hari and Dileep together. He added that Dileep had helped the child actor learn the dialogue and guided him during the scene.

The director further revealed that he had not stayed in touch with Hari after the film’s shoot ended. However, a chance encounter a few months ago unexpectedly reunited them. Lal Jose recalled, "About five or six months ago, one night in Ernakulam, I went to a roadside eatery very late to have some food. A young man with a beard was sitting next to me and eating. After a while, he asked, ‘Uncle, do you recognise me?’ I said no. Then he said, ‘I am Hari, who acted as the child artist in Rasikan'. Seeing him after so many years and having him come and talk to me made me very happy."

Life beyond acting

Over the years, he appeared in several projects, including films and telefilms. He was also seen in the 2015 Malayalam film Amar Akbar Anthony, which starred Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead. In the film, Hari played the younger brother of Prithviraj’s character.

Although Hari Murali had a successful start as a child artist, he eventually stepped away from acting to focus on his studies. After completing his higher secondary education, he moved to Bengaluru, where he pursued a degree in visual effects and animation.

Later, he worked as a VFX artist in Chennai, building a career behind the scenes in the film industry. Despite moving away from acting, he remained passionate about cinema. In an earlier interview, Hari had shared his ambition of writing a film script that he hoped to one day present to Malayalam superstar Mammootty.

His sudden death has left the industry and his loved ones in shock.