12 March,2026 01:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Hari Murali
The Malayalam film industry has been left in shock by the news of one of its most adorable child actors' passing away. Hari Murali, the little boy who made the whole of Kerala laugh with a single dialogue in the 2004 Dileep-starrer Rasikan, died at the age of 27.
Hari was reportedly found dead at his home in Annur, Payyannur, Kerala. His body was later taken to a nearby private hospital, where he was declared dead. He was 27 at the time of his death.
More details about his death are still unknown.
Hari was the son of drama and theatre actor KU Murali and Prasanna. He was also the brother of the well-known actor Sree Murali. Coming from a family closely associated with theatre, Hari grew up amid performing arts. His father, popularly known as Payyannur Murali, has been active in the theatre space for nearly three decades.
Hari made his acting debut at a very young age through television serials. Director AM Nazeer first gave him a small role in a serial when he was just four-and-a-half years old. He later made his film debut with the 2004 Malayalam movie Rasikan, where his acting as a child artist drew attention from audiences. People across Kerala adored that little boy. Although his character did not have a name in the film, fans lovingly called him 'Unnikuttan'.
Later, he went on to appear in several films, including Annan Thambi, directed by Anwar Rasheed, along with Madampi, Don, Pattanathil Bhootham, and Ulagam Chuttum Valiban, among others. He appeared as a child artist in around 10 to 15 films in his career. Apart from the big screen, Hari was also seen in nearly 40 television serials, such as the popular shows Kuttichathan and Kayamkulam Kochunni.
Eventually, he stepped away from acting. He had once shared that his school life had become difficult because he was a child actor. Classmates often kept their distance, unsure how to treat a face they had seen on screen.
After stepping away from acting for his education, he returned years later with a small cameo in the Malayalam film Amar Akbar Anthony, playing Prithviraj's younger brother.
Hari went on to complete a BSc in Visual Effects and Animation in Bengaluru and was reportedly working as a graphic designer at a company in Ernakulam. He had been exploring opportunities to enter the showbiz again through the VFX field.
