From laughter to silence: Hareesh Kanaran reveals he was cheated, lost key roles in Malayalam cinema

It would not be an exaggeration to say that there was a time when not a single film was released without actor Hareesh Kanaran in it. There used to be a time when his friends even joked about him hopping between film sets. Hareesh’s presence in Malayalam cinema was largely driven by his sharp sense of humor.

The jokes he crafted, with his signature Kozhikode style, became an integral part of everyday conversation among Malayalis. Even today, his comedy scenes continue to go viral on social media, a testament to his lasting impact on the audience.

However, speculations soon began when Hareesh disappeared from Malayalam cinema altogether. Rumours even circulated that he was seriously ill. Now, Hareesh reveals that he was left without film offers due to being cheated by a prominent production controller in the Malayalam film industry. The actor is now set to make a comeback through the film ‘Madhura Kanakku’ after a brief hiatus, and that too in a villainous role, something he has never done before. Hareesh Kanaran bares his heart to Manorama Online.

Comeback in a negative role
Madhura Kanakku, directed by debutant Radheshyam, is set for release. I’m playing a negative role in the film. I portray a ruthless moneylender, someone who can slit a throat with a smile. Hareeshettan (Hareesh Peradi) called me up for the role, saying it would do wonders for my career. Hareeshettan plays the lead in the movie. The story is written by Shanthakumar, an acclaimed playwright, though he is no longer with us.

Not insistent on humour roles alone
I’m not at all adamant about doing only humorous roles.  The one speciality of cinema is that if an actor plays the role of a religious cleric, he’ll be flooded with similar roles afterward. So, when I’m called for a film, they’ve usually already decided to give me comic lines. There’s nothing much I can do about it. I gladly accept whatever characters come my way.

Mazhavil Manorama’s Comedy Festival
The character of Jaliyan Kanaran, which I portrayed at the Comedy Festival program on Mazhavil Manorama, was the gateway that opened the door to cinema for me. Thanks to that role, I’ve had the privilege of acting in over 100 films in a relatively short span of time. I consider myself fortunate to have shared the screen with iconic stars like Lalettan, Mammukka, and Chackochan. Even now, people still send me clips of my comedy scenes from Salt Mango Tree, where I worked alongside Biju Chettan (Biju Menon). It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that my characters continue to bring joy to audiences. Currently, I’m working on a new comedy show for Manorama Max, directed by Rajesh Mohanan, who also helmed Salt Mango Tree. I’m playing the lead role in this project, and I’m excited to see where it takes me.

Working on scripts
Not all comic scripts work for me. Sometimes, they come across as quite odd. I’ve tried to persuade directors and screenplay writers to avoid such jokes by discussing them with directors and screenplay writers. At times, the director may not take it well initially, but they usually come around once they see the result. A comic script should make us laugh  when we read it, only then will it work for the audience.
My strength comes from my experience with comedy scripts. We wrote all the scripts for the comedy skits we performed at the Comedy Festival. That experience has helped me develop a sense of what may or may not work for the audience. As a result, I haven’t faced much criticism for the roles I’ve done. In fact, many of them continue to be celebrated long after. I’ve said it before, Maamukka (Mamukkoya) was a great influence in my life. We still laugh watching his comedy scenes, and that continues to inspire me. I don’t have time to waste on people who see the negative in everything.

Improvised scenes
I put a lot of effort into enhancing the comedy scenes in the films I’m part of. I do everything I can to make them work, often discussing ideas with the director and co-actors. For example, in ‘Two Countries,’ there’s a scene where someone asks how many bogus votes the character played by Aju Varghese will cast. The reply I gave, “as many as possible till the police catch him”, was created spontaneously during the take. That scene received tremendous applause in theatres. Another such moment is my dialogue from ‘King Liar’, where I say, “I had to bludgeon my father to death under certain circumstances.”

Reason for disappearing from movies
During the Covid period, I lost several confirmed projects. Afterward, I began to feel that the nature of cinema had shifted. Films with more violent content started gaining widespread acceptance. However, that wasn’t the only reason for my absence. A production controller who had once managed my dates and was involved in nearly every film played a significant role in this setback.
I had lent him around Rs. 20 lakh, but he only repaid about Rs. 6 lakh. When I asked for the remaining amount, particularly as I was building my house, he failed to pay it back. Frustrated, I eventually filed a complaint with AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists). Perhaps out of spite, he made sure to ensure my exclusion from several projects. One of the films I lost out on was Ajayante Randam Moshanam. Later, when I met Tovino, he asked me why I wasn’t part of the film. That’s when I realized how many opportunities I had missed, leading people to believe I had disappeared from the industry. Now, after a long break, I’m back and active in films once again.

Social media speculations
I came to know that there was a lot of speculation about my absence from movies. I’m not active on social media. People can say anything, and I don’t bother responding. Some always find fault with everything. If we share a photo of receiving the key to a new vehicle, they’ll comment asking why we aren’t helping the poor. They may not even know whether we are actually helping others, since it’s not something we publicise on social media. That’s why I never respond to comments online. I’m convinced it’s pointless.

Upcoming projects
Madhura Kanakku is set to release on December 4. Following that is Namukku Kodathiyil Kaanam, with Sreenath Bhasi in the lead, where I play the role of a judge. There’s also an upcoming film by director Omar Lulu. Rajesh Mohanan is working on a sequel to Salt Mango Tree, and I’m playing a role in that as well. I’m eagerly waiting for diverse roles.