# Harisree Ashokan

Harisree Ashokan (born 6 April 1964) is an Indian actor and director who is known for his comedy roles in Malayalam films. Ashokan has acted in more than 200 Malayalam films. He started his career as a mimicry artist in the troupe Harisree and then worked in Kalabhavan.

## Early life

Ashokan (nicknamed Babu) was born as the sixth child among ten children to the late Kunjappan and late Janaki on 6 April 1964, at Ernakulam, Kochi. He has nine siblings, the late Raveendran, the late Sasindran, Mohanan, Anil, Sunil, Santha, Vimala, and the late Sujatha. He had his primary education from MIHS Ernakulam. After tenth he joined Kuyilin's Cochin Kalavedi. He holds a diploma in Telecom Engineering from Ernakulam, Kerala. He found work as an assistant lineman in 1984 with the Telecom Department in Kochi, Kerala. He worked until 1987 when he rose to become a lineman. While working there he joined Kalabhavan and worked for 6 years and later moved to Harisree, after which he began to be called 'Harisree Ashokan'. His elder brother was also a telecom officer.
Asokan was always interested in acting and was an amateur theatre actor. He got his first break with the movie Parvathy Parinayam directed by P.G. Viswambharan where he played the role of a beggar.

## Career

Ashokan made his screen debut in the 1986 movie Pappan Priyappetta Pappan. He played several numerous roles in the next years. Among these, he was noted for the role of beggar in the 1994 movie Parvathy Parinayam. This role gave the first breakthrough in his film career. He acted in around ten movies in 1994 itself after acting in Parvathy Parinayam. It was the movie Vrudhanmare Sookshikkuka in 1994, which gave him the major breakthrough, where he played one of the lead roles alongside Dileep, with whom Ashokan eventually formed one of the most celebrated comedy duos in Malayalam film industry throughout his career.
In the 1998 movie Punjabi House, Ashokan played the character Ramanan, which is considered one of the best comedy characters in Malayalam films. Many consider this as the best performance by Harishree Ashokan in his career which developed a cult following several years after its release. The Dileep-Harishree Ashokan's other hit movie is Ee Parakkum Thalika, which was released in 2001, where he played the role of Sundaran. He played the character of Sugunan in the 2002 movie Meesha Madhavan, which became the highest grossing Malayalam movie of that year. Harishree Ashokan's most famous roles in his career came out in 2003. In the slapsick comedy C.I.D. Moosa, he played the role of Thorappan Kochunni and in the movie Pulival Kalyanam, he became Theeppori Kuttappan. He played the character Krishankutty in Thilakkam. His role as Ugran in the movie Chronic Bachelor was also appreciated by the audience. All these films were major blockbusters in 2003.
In the 2005 Malayalam movie Boyy Friennd, Ashokan played the villain role for the first time in his career.
Dileep and Harishree Ashokan is a popular comedy pairing in Malayalam cinema. The duo have acted together in plenty of movies. Vriddanmarund Sookshikkuga, Punjabi House, Ee Parakkum Thalika, Meesa Madhavan, C.I.D Moosa, Thilakkam, Runway, Kochi Rajavu, Pandippada, Crazy Gopalan, Chess, Kuberan, Kaaryastan are some among the major movies among them.
Ashokan made his directional debut through the 2019 movie An International Local Story.

## Personal life

He is married to Preetha. The couple have two children, Sreekutty and Malayalam film actor Arjun Ashokan.

## Filmography
### As actor

Key :
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |

#### 1980s

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1986 | Pappan Priyappetta Pappan | | Debut film |

#### 1990s

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1991 | Godfather | Anjooran's houseboy |
| 1992 | First Bell | Mental Patient |
| 1992 | Chevalier Michael | |
| 1993 | Ammayane Sathyam | |
| 1993 | Vakkeel Vasudev | |
| 1993 | Porutham | Gulumalu Jamal |
| 1993 | Sakshal Sreeman Chathunni | Bhaskaran |
| 1994 | Kudumba Visesham | Abubacker |
| 1994 | Vadhu Doctoranu | Snake charmer |
| 1994 | Manathe Kottaram | Balan |
| 1995 | Parvathy Parinayam | Beggar |
| 1995 | Keerthanam | |
| 1995 | Kokkarakko | Servant |
| 1995 | Three Men Army | Susheelan |
| 1995 | Achan Raajavu Appan Jethavu | Dushyantharaj |
| 1995 | Alancheri Thamprakkal | Haridas |
| 1995 | Kalamasseriyil Kalyanayogam | |
| 1995 | Kalyanji Anandji | Anantharaman |
| 1995 | Mimics Action 500 | |
| 1995 | Vrudhanmare Sookshikkuka | Dharmaraj / Daniel M D'Souza |
| 1995 | Tom & Jerry | |
| 1995 | Sindoora Rekha | Oommachan |
| 1995 | Mannar Mathai Speaking | Sandhyavu |
| 1996 | Kaathil Oru Kinnaram | John Samuel |
| 1996 | Kanchanam | Easho |
| 1996 | Kalyana Sowgandhikam | Bahuleyan |
| 1996 | Kumkumacheppu | |
| 1996 | Kanjirapally Kariyachan | |
| 1996 | Padanayakan | |
| 1996 | Manthrika Kuthira | |
| 1996 | Nandagopalnte Kusruthikal | |
| 1996 | Kudumbakodathi | Sarathy Kumaran |
| 1996 | Aramana Veedum Anjoorekkarum | Rajappan |
| 1996 | Kinnam Katta Kallan | |
| 1996 | Harbour | Usman |
| 1996 | Mr. Clean | Iymootty |
| 1996 | Malayaalamaasam Chingam Onninu | Kochuraman |
| 1996 | Ee Puzhayum Kadannu | Ramankutty |
| 1997 | Mannadiar Penninu Chenkotta Checkan | Aromal |
| 1997 | Arjunan Pillayum Anchu Makkalum | Thankakkuttan |
| 1997 | Ishtadanam | M.K. Maniyan |
| 1997 | Aniyathipraavu | Chippayi |
| 1997 | Moonnu Kodiyum Munnooru Pavanum | Kondotty |
| 1997 | Poothumbiyum Poovalanmarum | Charlie |
| 1997 | The Good Boys | Kunjandi |
| 1997 | Hitler Brothers | Bhakthavalsalan |
| 1997 | Ikkareyanente Manasam | Thankappan |
| 1997 | Oru Mutham Manimutham | Kumaran |
| 1998 | Gramapanchayath | Swa. Le |
| 1998 | Nakshatratharattu | Darling Hariharan |
| 1998 | Amma Ammayiamma | Premachandran |
| 1998 | Kallu Kondoru Pennu | Antappan |
| 1998 | Mayajalam | Manivarnnan |
| 1998 | Punjabi House | Ramanan |
| 1999 | Deepasthambham Mahascharyam | Aliyar |
| 1999 | Jananayakan | Dominic |
| 1999 | Chandamama | Bhaskaran |
| 1999 | Onnam Vattom Kandappol | |
| 1999 | Bharya Veettil Paramasukham | Shiyami |
| 1999 | Pattabhishekam | Bhairavan |
| 1999 | Auto Brothers | Pappan |
| 1999 | Pranaya Nilavu | Mathai |
| 1999 | Charlie Chaplin | Bheeman |
| 1999 | Udayapuram Sulthan | Augustine |
| 1999 | Tokyo Nagarathile Viseshangal | Vikram Bolaram Singh |

#### 2000s

| Year | Film | Role |
| 2000 | Sathyam Sivam Sundaram | Vijayan |
| 2000 | Nadan Pennum Natupramaniyum | Pachu |
| 2000 | Aanamuttathe Aangalamar | Ramanan |
| 2000 | Millennium Stars | |
| 2000 | Ee Mazha Thenmazha | |
| 2000 | Melevaryathe Malakhakkuttikal | |
| 2000 | Vinayapoorvam Vidhyaadharan | Punyalan |
| 2000 | Mera Naam Joker | |
| 2000 | Varavay | |
| 2000 | Kattuvannu Vilichappol | Velappan |
| 2001 | Aaraam Jaalakam | |
| 2001 | Rakshasa Rajavu | Pathrose |
| 2001 | Nakshathragal Parayathirunnathu | Shashankan |
| 2001 | Meghasandesam | Kuttikrishnan |
| 2001 | Naranathu Thampuran | Sadan |
| 2001 | House Owner | |
| 2001 | Prnayamanthram | |
| 2001 | Nagaravadhu | |
| 2001 | Andolanam | |
| 2001 | Sharja To Sharja | Lohi |
| 2001 | Ee Parakkum Thalika | Sundaresan M. K |
| 2001 | Sundara Purushan | Philipose |
| 2002 | Savithriyude Aranjanam | Neelakandan |
| 2002 | Pranayamanithooval | Ponnappan |
| 2002 | Oomappenninu Uriyadappayyan | Kochu Kuttan |
| 2002 | Kuberan | Theyyunni |
| 2002 | www.anukudumbam.com | |
| 2002 | Kayamkulam Kanaran | |
| 2002 | Pakalpooram | Ayyappankutty |
| 2002 | Kattuchembakam | Antappan |
| 2002 | Kaiyethum Doorath | Appunni |
| 2002 | Jagathy Jagadeesh in Town | Udakku Chempakaraman |
| 2002 | Bamboo Boys | Nakki |
| 2002 | Meesa Madhavan | Sugunan |
| 2003 | Varum Varunnu Varunnu | |
| 2003 | Thillana Thillana | Govind |
| 2003 | Chronic Bachelor | Ugran |
| 2003 | Thilakkam | Krishnan Kutty |
| 2003 | C.I.D. Moosa | Thurappan Kochunni |
| 2003 | Achante Kochumolkku | Anthappan |
| 2003 | Balettan | Manikandan |
| 2003 | Melvilasam Sariyanu | Pushkaran |
| 2003 | Valathottu Thirinjal Nalamathe Veedu | Suresh |
| 2003 | Pulival Kalyanam | Theeppori Kuttappan |
| 2004 | Kerala House Udan Vilpanakku | Vallabhan |
| 2004 | C. I. Mahadevan 5 Adi 4 Inchu | Dasappan |
| 2004 | Vismayathumbathu | Gopan |
| 2004 | Thalamelam | Guinness Gopalan |
| 2004 | Kusruthi | Kumaran |
| 2004 | Vajram | Achu |
| 2004 | Thekkekkara Superfast | Bhairavan |
| 2004 | Runway | Porinchu |
| 2004 | Mampazhakkalam | Sulaiman |
| 2005 | Otta Nanayam | Paramu |
| 2005 | Junior Senior | Jeeva |
| 2005 | Bus Conductor | Gangadharan |
| 2005 | Kalyanakurimanam | |
| 2005 | Lokanathan IAS | Ajayan |
| 2005 | Iruvattam Manavaatti | Susheelan |
| 2005 | Hridayathil Sookshikkan | Mathen |
| 2005 | Kochi Rajavu | Komalan |
| 2005 | Ben Johnson | Constable Swami |
| 2005 | Pandippada | Bhasi |
| 2005 | Boyy Friennd | Thankappan |
| 2006 | Madhuchandralekha | Digambaran |
| 2006 | Moonnamathoral | Divakaran |
| 2006 | Baba Kalyani | |
| 2006 | Lion | Kannan |
| 2006 | Parayam | |
| 2006 | Chacko Randaaman | Usman |
| 2006 | Thuruppugulan | Shathru |
| 2006 | Kilukkam Kilukilukkam | Ponnappan |
| 2006 | Chess | Kallan Bhaskaran |
| 2007 | Changathipoocha | Aishwaryan |
| 2007 | Inspector Garud | Kuttappan |
| 2007 | Athisayan | S.P Damodaran |
| 2007 | Aakasham | Manoharan |
| 2007 | Black Cat | Caesar |
| 2007 | Rock n' Roll | Balu |
| 2007 | Nagaram | Parashuraman |
| 2007 | Janmam | |
| 2007 | Kangaroo | Pappachan |
| 2007 | Ottakkayyan | Ottakkayyan Vasu |
| 2007 | Mouryan | |
| 2007 | Sooryan | |
| 2008 | Bullet | |
| 2008 | Kabadi Kabadi | Biju |
| 2008 | Swarnam | |
| 2008 | Annan Thampi | Chandran |
| 2008 | College Kumaran | Valsan |
| 2008 | Twenty:20 | Poottu Varkey |
| 2008 | Crazy Gopalan | Harishchandran |
| 2009 | Moz & Cat | Ajayan |
| 2009 | Kancheepurathe Kalyanam | P.M. Premachandran |
| 2009 | Banaras | Paul |
| 2009 | Chemistry | Varghese |
| 2009 | Vairam: Fight For Justice | Sugunan |
| 2009 | Passenger | Varghese |
| 2009 | Rahasya Police | Arjunan |
| 2009 | Swantham Lekhakan | Dasan |
| 2009 | Bharya Swantham Suhruthu | |
| 2009 | Utharaswayamvaram | Sarassappan |
| 2009 | Colours | Gopi |
| 2009 | Loudspeaker | Kathanar |

#### 2010s

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | Bodyguard | Neelambaran | |
| 2010 | Valiyangadi | | |
| 2010 | In Ghost House Inn | Ernest | |
| 2010 | Janakan | Pazhani | |
| 2010 | Advocate Lakshmanan – Ladies Only | Broker Sathyavan | |
| 2010 | Neelambari | Sundaran | |
| 2010 | Kaaryasthan | Kumaran | |
| 2010 | Holidays | Thangappan | |
| 2010 | Swantham Bharya Zindabad | Uthaman | |
| 2010 | Puthumukhangal | Member Mani | |
| 2011 | August 15 | Chackochan | |
| 2011 | Maharaja Talkies | | |
| 2011 | Lucky Jokers | Vijayan | |
| 2011 | Uppukandam Brothers: Back in Action | Aakri' Shaji | |
| 2011 | Manushyamrugam | Advocate Shamsuddin Valiyaveettil | |
| 2011 | Orma Mathram | | |
| 2011 | Swapna Sanchari | Rameshan | |
| 2011 | Bombay Mittayi | Sulaiman | |
| 2011 | Snehadaram | | |
| 2012 | Orkut Oru Ormakoot | Narayanan | |
| 2012 | Asuravithu | Father Mullu Murikan | |
| 2012 | Kunjaliyan | Veeramani | |
| 2012 | Mullassery Madhavan Kutty Nemom P. O. | Shashankan Pravachambalam | |
| 2012 | Vaadhyar | | |
| 2012 | Perinoru Makan | | |
| 2012 | MLA Mani: Patham Classum Gusthiyum | Pushkaran | |
| 2012 | Doctor Innocentanu | Pookkoya | |
| 2012 | Prabhuvinte Makkal | | |
| 2012 | Scene onnu Nammude Veedu | Bhasi | |
| 2012 | Oru Kudumba Chithram | Gopikuttan | |
| 2012 | Bavuttiyude Namathil | Alavi | |
| 2013 | Radio | Jhonson | |
| 2013 | Pigman | Thimmayyan | |
| 2013 | Blackberry | Madhavan | |
| 2013 | Kadal Kadannoru Mathukkutty | Rafi | |
| 2013 | Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum | Susheelan | |
| 2013 | Geethaanjali | Fake Swami | |
| 2013 | Ezhu Sundara Rathrikal | Abid | |
| 2014 | Aamayum Muyalum | Mayilappa | |
| 2014 | To Let Ambadi Talkies | | |
| 2015 | 3 Wicketinu 365 Runs | | |
| 2016 | Thoppil Joppan | Poulose | |
| 2017 | Honey Bee 2: Celebrations | Kappal Ory | |
| 2017 | Role Models | Ramanan | Cameo |
| 2017 | Honey Bee 2.5 | Himself | |
| 2017 | Parava | Habeeba | |
| 2018 | Oru Pazhaya Bomb Kadha | Kumaran Asan | |
| 2018 | Daivame Kaithozham K. Kumar Akanam | Doctor | |
| 2018 | Theneechayum Peerankippadayum | | |
| 2019 | Ilayaraja | Ganapathy | |

#### 2020s

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2021 | Minnal Murali | Dasan |
| 2021 | Keshu Ee Veedinte Nadhan | Kunjikrishnan |
| 2022 | Priyan Ottathilanu | Kuppi Rajan |
| 2023 | Kunjamminis Hospital | Pappachan |
| 2023 | Maharani | Anirudhan |
| 2023 | A Ranjith Cinema | Shashankan |
| 2024 | Anweshippin Kandethum | Postman Chandran |
| 2025 | Rekhachithram | Gopinath |
| 2025 | Abhyanthara Kuttavali † | TBA |
| TBA | 1 Princess Street † | TBA |

### As director

| Year | Film | Language | Notes |
| 2019 | An International Local Story | Malayalam | Directorial debut |