Harikeshan Thampi, professionally known as Hari is a former actor and dubbing artist of Malayalam cinema. Though he has done both lead and supporting roles on screen, he is best known for giving voice to the iconic character ‘Pavanai’ in Malayalam cult classic, Nadodikattu (1987). This iconic character, dubbed by Harikeshan Thampi and played by Captain Raju on screen, is still popular in meme culture. Thampi was the hero of actor Sreenivasan’s debut film, Manimuzhakkam (1976) directed by P. A. Backer.
Hari debut as a child actor in Raja Harishchandra
He played Lohithakshan, son of Raja Harishchandra in the mythological film, Raja Harishchandra (1954) which marked his acting debut. He played Thikkurussi’s son and was credited as Master Hari in this film. Later he worked in many movies as a child artist, mostly portraying mythological characters. Later he acted in more than 50 movies, playing both lead and supporting roles in a career spanning to more than 6 decades. He was active in the industry until mid-2010s.
He played Thikkurussi’s son in his debut film, Raja Harishchandra
He played supporting roles in Muthuchippi, Hijack, Rasaleela, Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty, Gandharvam, Swaroopam, Eenam Thettatha Kattaru, Sambhavaami Yuge Yuge, Kadamattathachan, Thudarkadha, Ammakkorumma, Belt Mathai, Chappa, Krishna Guruvayoorappa etc. Most of them were either less-significant roles or off-beat films in which he played prominent roles.
Harikeshan Thampi’s career as a dubbing artist
Though Harikeshan Thampi remained active in the industry since mid-1950s and played numerous roles on screen, he couldn’t gain recognition as an actor. With the early 1980s, he switched to dubbing and became a prominent dubbing artist of the times. He has dubbed for almost 1,000 films, which includes dubbing to Malayalam from other regional languages too. In fact, he mostly dubbed for villain voices in Malayalam, becoming their powerful voices.
He dubbed around 60 Telugu movies for Chiranjeevi into Malayalam, and Nagarjuna, Krishna, and Mohan Babu other prominent names. Harikeshan Thampi dubbed for Kannada superstars like Ambareesh and Vishnuvarddan as well.
Voice of Captain Raju, V K Sreeraman and Devan during their early days
Hari has been a prominent dubbing artist of Malayalam film industry in the 1980s. Among all characters, Captain Raju’s Pavanai became an iconic character. Apart from Nadodikattu, he became the voice of Captain Raju in movies like Aavanazhi, Theekattu, Oru Sindoora Pottinte Ormaykku, Amrutham Gamaya and Adimakal Udamakal.
Harikeshan Thampi was a frequent voice of actor Devan in the 1980s. He rendered his voice for the iconic films of 1980s – Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam, New Delhi and Aranyakam, apart from becoming his ghost voice for Bhadra Chitta, Aalavattam, Naalkavala, Vartha, Dhinarathrangal, Chithram, Hijack, Ghoshayaathra, Grihaprevesam, Simon Peter Ninakku Vendi, Kilukkam and many more.
He dubbed for actor Babu Namboothiri for films Crime File and Nirakoottu. V K Sreeraman, Shankar, Nizhalgal Ravi, Spadikam George (For Thenkasi Pattanam), Babu Raj, Shanavas, Charuhasan, Spadikam George, Kollam Ajith, Kollam Thulasi and Babu Antony are other major names. He dubbed the character Rama Pothuval for legendary actor Bharat Gopi in the film, Vardhakya Puranam.
Reminiscences of Manimuzhakkam and his association with Sreenivasan
The shooting of Manimuzhakkam, actor Sreenivasan’s first film, took place at an orphanage along the Ernakulam–Alappuzha route. Hari, who was also the hero of Manimuzhakkam and a dubbing artist, recalled that Sreenivasan acted with great naturalness and that even then it felt like he would grow into a good actor in the future. He shared these memories from his home at Nedumvettam, Nemom, where he is residing right now in Thiruvananthapuram city.
Sreenivasan got the opportunity to act in Bakker’s film through a friend from Adyar Film Institute, Chennai where he took his acing classes. Sreenivasan played the role of a mischievous boy who secretly keeps beedis and matchsticks and shares them with his friends. Harikeshan Thampi remembers that during a time when film stock was expensive, Sreenivasan performed his portions beautifully without requiring many retakes. Manimuzhakkam went on to receive several awards. Sreenivasan later got the chance to act as the lead in Bakker’s film Sanghagaanam as well.
Hari was the voice behind Captain Raju’s character Pavanayi in Nadodikkattu. As the film became a hit, along with Pavanayi’s humor-filled dialogues, Hari said that Sreenivasan had called him to congratulate him. Harikeshan Thampi shared screen space with him later in National award winning, Swaroopam in 1992.
After that, Harikeshan Thampi acted alongside Sreenivasan in the film Parashala Paachan Payyannur Paramu, directed by Venu, with screenplay and dialogues written by Sreenivasan himself. Hari played a bank manager in the film. The roles of two thieves who trick the bank manager were played by Sreenivasan and Jagathy Sreekumar. Later, he got the opportunity to do dubbing for nearly twenty films written by Sreenivasan. Read Sreenivasan’s best scripts.
Later, they used to meet and talk at the meetings of AMMA, the actors’ association. The last time they met was during an AMMA election. When Hari asked, “Do you recognize me?”, Sreenivasan, in a trembling voice, replied, “Isn’t it Hari?” and held his hand.
If interested, you can watch his interview here.
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