An actor performs

A multifaceted actor, an experimental filmmaker Kamal Haasan efortlessly glides between film industries across India

NT Features

Kamal Haasan celebrated his 67th birthday last week. The actor has effortlessly straddled Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi film industries. He has acted, written and produced over 141 films in the last 60 years. The world may know him as Kamal Hasssan, but to his fans he is Ulga Naikan or Universal Hero. He won the President’s Gold Medal at the age of four for his first film as a child artiste and went on to win three national awards for best actor Moondram Pirai (1982), Nayakan(1987) and Indian(1986). Haasan received the Padma Shri (1990) and the Padma Bhushan (2014) for his contributions to Indian cinema. He won a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for producing the Tamil film, Thevar Magan(1992).

THEVAR MAGAN (1992)

Thevar Magan was a path breaking movie for Haasan where he played out one of his most memorable characters, Sakthivel, son of Periya Thevar. He is the son of the village head, who wants to stay as far away from that seat of power. But circumstances push Sakthi to step in his father’s shoes after his death. Haasan brings the character alive in his community settings and with his appearance and dialogues. It’s one of the best performances of the star

RAMA SHAMA BHAMA (2005)

Haasan as Shama in the movie dominates each frame. His performance has been appreciated for his authentic Hubli-Dharwad accent and perfect comic timing. Throughout the movie, he keeps the audience entertained with his zany behaviour and perfectly delivered punchlines. It is a performance that fans still enjoy even after all these years

NAYAKAN (1987)

Nayakan is a film loosely based on the Hollywood trilogy The Godfather where Haasan gives a powerhouse performance in the titular role as Sakthivel ‘Velu’ Nayakan. Though Velu is a tribute to Marlin Brando, it is in part a mix of Brando’s Vito Corlene, Al Pacino’s Micheal and Robert De Niro’s younger version of Vito. Nayakan, the character and Haasan, the actor are two identities which merge together as one in the movie. The two seem inseparable. As Velu, Haasan brings his own persona to the character and leaves you mesmerised with the nuances he gives to the character. He brings to the table a character which gives another perspective to the traditional don.

PUSHPAKA VIMANA (1997)

One of Haasan’s most appreciated performances is in this silent movie. He doesn’t utter a word but his expressions say it all. As an unemployed youngster, he conveys with his body language without actually saying anything. Even though there’s no dialogue or voiceover, you don’t miss any verbal communication. The script of the movie is shot in situations that do not require conversation. And Haasan is able to do justice to the script and deliver a perfectly pitched performance.

DASAVATHAARAM (2008)

In a single film, Haasan enthrals his audience by playing as ten characters. This also happens to be of his biggest hits. Haasan has not only acted in the film but scripted it too. The switch from one character to another is done effortlessly and smoothly by the actor. Its like every single character is a second skin to him. Every scene he’s in and every dialogue he says makes you amazed by the flexibility of this performer.