Kamal Haasan - The Never Before Never After Genius Showman

Today marks the fifty sixth year of Kamal Haasan's ever active life as the unparalleled actor, performer, pioneer and innovator in cinema. We take this opportunity to salute him and also present to you a slide show feature showing his growth from a little boy to the Giant of Indian cinema.

Child Actor

As a child actor Kamal has acted in the films of the Three Kings of Tamil Cinema Sivaji Ganesan, MGR and Gemnini Ganesan and if you happen to catch any of those films like 'Kalathur Kannamma', 'Anantha Jothi', 'Paarthaal Pasitheerum' and 'Vanambadi' the assured screen presence and the sure footed performance provide evidence that the Genuis had already arrived fifty six years back.

The Youthful Supporting Actor

Barely in his late teens Kamal started of as a youthful supporting actor in films like 'Kurathi Magan', 'Andharangam', 'Sollathan Ninaikkiren', 'Aval Oru Thodarkathai'. Kamal never failed to grab the audience attention by doing something special like the ventriloquist in 'Avargal' or the mimic singing 'Kadavul Amaithu Vaitha Medai' in 'Aval Oru Thodarkathai'.

Disco Dancer in Bell Bottoms

Before Mohan arrived on the scene, it was Kamal, who owned the mike and not only sang in bell bottoms, but also danced disco and popularized it in the films of the late seventies and early eighties. 'Ilamai Oonjaladugiradhu', 'Sigappu Rojakkal', 'Ninaithale Inikkum', 'Manmadha Leelai', 'Savaal' and 'Sattam Enn Kayil' to name a few. The exceptional exception '16 Vayadhinile' also came at this time.

The Box Office King

The commercial ventures of Kamal have brought in as much moolah as his art house fares brought him awards in films like 'Sakalakalavallavan', 'Guru', 'Thoongathey Thambi Thoongathey'

Birth of Kamal the Actor of Substance

It all started with 'Raja Paarvai' where he brilliantly portrayed a blind man and followed it up with one stunner after another like 'Varumaiyin Niram Sivappu', 'Vazhve Maayam', 'Moondraam Pirai', 'Sathya', 'Pesum Padam' and of course 'Nayagan'. He also excelled in other language films like 'Chanakiyan', 'Swathi Muthiyam' and 'Sagara Sangamam'.

The Creative Kamal Emerges

He has long been the master of all trades of cinema, having started out as a dance assistant and dabbled in every department making him unarguably the most knowledgeable man on cinema in India. Kamal started writing scripts and involving himself for his films like 'Nammavar', 'Thevar Magan', 'Magalir Mattum', 'Kurthipunal' etc

The Comic Genius

It is unlikely that any other mainstream hero in Indian cinema has made audiences laugh to tears like Kamal Haasan in film collaborations with Crazy Mohan like 'Apoorva Sahodarargal', 'Micahel Madhana Kama Rajan', 'Sathileelavathi','Avvai Shanmugi', 'Panchathanthiram' and 'Vasool Raja MBBS' etc.

Kamal the Director

The genius showman also proved that he is as good a filmmaker with such hard hitting films like 'Hey Ram', 'Virumandi' and of course touched the Rs. 200 Crore Club with 'Viswaroopam'.

The Matured Middle Aged Hero

Kamal never gives an usual film and even his flops are lessons in the art of film making for any young aspirant. The middle aged Kamal touched greater heights as an actor by portraying unusual characters in films like 'Anbe Sivam', 'Dasavatharam', 'Unnaipol Oruvan', 'Uttama Villain', and 'Papanasam'.

Kamal and Controversies

Kamal and controversies are like conjoined twins and it is a delight for anyone to watch him take them head on and overcome them in his inimitable style. He faced and won against adversities in all of his past three releases 'Vishwaroopam', 'Uttama Villain' and 'Papanasam'.

Kamal - The Man