Kamal Haasan

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Kamal Haasan acquired education in fine arts and dramatics

After Primary education in Paramakudi, a city located in the Ramanathapuram Tamil Nadu. Kamal Haasan moved to Chennai and did his basic Secondary education from Santhome Higher Secondary School, Mylapore, Chennai. But his passion for cinema attracted him to dance and acting. Hence he quit academic education and chased education in fine arts and dramatics. He trained himself in Bharatanatyam Classical Indian dance. He joined AVM - Avvai Shanmugam Annachi  - Troupe. Here he assisted dance masters and film directors and learned the nuances of filmmaking and acting.

Kamal Haasan shared relationships with 5 women!

The first lady that came in Kamal's life was his beautiful co-star Srividya, famous Tamil and Malayalam actress. The two worked together many films. South film media went rife about their romance in the ‘70s but soon, Srividya married George Thomas, a Malayalam film assistant director and the relationship ended abruptly.

After a flop love affair with Srividya, Kamalwas attracted to the renowned dancer Vaani Ganapathy. In 1978, Kamal tied the nuptial knot with Vaani and had a successful married life for a decade. 

After 10 years of happy married life, the wedding got a jolt when Bollywood beauty Sarika charmed Kamal Haasan's heart. Even before acquiring a divorce from Vaani, Kamal started live-in relationship with Sarika and the duo had two daughters Shruti and Akshara.

After Sarika’s exit, Kamal fell in love with 2 more ladies. First he had brief relation with Simran Bagga and later Kamal had a live-in relationship with Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and Kannada cinema actress Gautami. This relation too ended on November 1, 2016.

1960

Kamal Haasan won the ‘Best Child National Award’ in his debut film

Kamal Haasan won his first role as a child actor accidentally. Kamal's mother had visited AVM studio to meet her friend. She had come along with her young 4-year-old Kamal. Incidentally film producer M. Saravanan, son of A. V. Meiyappan was bowled over by the innocent-looking Kamal and requested Kamal's mother to let him do a role in AVM’s Tamil Film Kalathur Kannamma (1960). The film had South Superstar Gemini Ganesan and Savitri. In this film, little Kamal played the role of an orphan with such conviction that he won huge applause for his magnificent performance in front of the mighty Gemini Ganesan. The role fetched Kamal his First Best Child Star National Award!

The success of the film encouraged Kamal to continue acting. Interestingly, Kamal's father motivated Kamal to chase his passion in acting and advised him to be part of T. K. Shanmugam, a Tamil theatre and film artist trope. Kamal learned the nuances of acting under the wings of T. K. Shanmugam, whom he regards as his Guru. 

1970

South Legend K. Balachander refined Kamal Haasan's talent 

Kamal Haasan was fortunate to have the blessing of the legendary film director K. Balachander who refined Kamal's raw talent. In films like Arangetram (1973) and Sollathaan Ninaikkiren (1973), Kamal played supporting roles. Later K. Balachander worked with Kamal in over 40 films, like Gumasthavin Magal (1974), Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974), Apoorva Raagangal (1975), Varumaiyin Niram Sivappu (1980)  and of course the Biggest Bollywood Hit film Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981).

Kamal Haasan created a history by winning Filmfare Awards for 6 years in a row!! (South India)

After establishing himself as a competent Kamal Haasan proved his mastery as an actor par excellence. He did a wide verity of roles. He proved his versatility playing novel characters that gave him opportunity to expose his talent. Thus he created history by winning Filmfare Awards for 6 years in a row!! Interestingly, Kamal Haasan hit a double hat-trick by winning 6 awards in a row at Filmfare South Film Industry Awards The six award were Kanyakumari (Malayalam- 1974); Tamil films - Apoorva Raagangal (1975); Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu (1976); 16 Vayadhinile (1977), Sigappu Rojakal (1978) and Yaetta (Malayalam) in 1978.

Kamal Haasan continued his winning streak at Filmfare by winning a total of 19 awards!! Raja Paarvai (Tamil 1981) and Aakali Rajyam (Telugu 1981); Sagara Sangamam (Telugu 1983); Pushpaka Vimana (Kannada -1987); In 1989 he won awards for Apoorva Sagodharargal (Tamil) and Indrudu Chandrudu (Telugu). Later he won awards for the Tamil films – Guna (1991), Thevar Magan (1992), Kuruthipunal (1995), Indian  (1996) and Hey Ram (2000). 

1980

Kamal Haasan left his mark in Bollywood too!

Kamal Haasan made his mark in Bollywood with the super hit film Ek Duuje Ke Liye, the remake of Maro Charitra (Telugu) directed by K. Balachander. The overnight success of Ek Duuje Ke Liye made Kamal Haasan a star in Bollywood and most of his South Films were dubbed in Hindi like Sadma, Yeh To Kamaal Ho Gaya and Zara Si Zindagi, Sagara Sangamam, Major Sahab etc. However, most of his dubbed films failed.

Kamal Haasan cemented his position in Bollywood after working in Ramesh Sippy's Sagar (1985) opposite Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia. The film fetched Kamal Haasan his First Filmfare Best Actor Award in Bollywood. The other Bollywood films that won Kamal Haasan success were Sanam Teri Kasam (1982) and Geraftaar (1985) opposite Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth.

In the late 90's Kamal Haasan returned to Bollywood with Chachi 420 the Hindi remake of Avvai Shanmughi (Tamil) and created Hungama. The other two Kamal Hassan dubbed films South films that did good business in Bollywood were Indian (1996) and Hey Ram (2000). 

1990 -2019

Some of the most Sterling Performances of Kamal Haasan

Moondram Pirai ( Sadma –Hindi) - 1982

Kamal Haasan won his First National Award for his superlative performance in the Tamil Film Moondram Pirai. He played a school teacher who nurses a mentally retarded lady (Sridevi) and in the process falls in love with her. When the lady recovers, she forgets him. The impact is so severe on Kamal Haasan that he becomes mentally retarded! The climax scene where Kamal attempts to revive back Sridevi's memory is perhaps the best tragic scene ever filmed on Indian screen!

Nayakan - 1987

Kamal Haasan portrayed the role of the real-life underworld don Varadarajan Mudaliar and his humble rise from slums to smuggler! Time magazine rated the film as ‘All-Time 100 Best Films'. Kamal Haasan deservedly won his second National Award as Best Actor.

Pushpak - (1987)

Kamal Haasan proved his maverick by making a salient film in an era of stereophonic sound! Salute to Kamal Haasan without a single dialogue and help of only background music he made a hilarious comedy. The film was a hit in South and Bollywood!

Indian - 1996

 Kamal Haasan won his Third Best Actor National Award for the film Indian. His fiery performance of an old freedom fighter who takes on the corruption India won huge success. Kamal played a dual role for honest father and evil son!

Apoorva Sagotharargal (In Hindi - Appu Raja) -  1989

 Kamal Haasan turned head playing a dwarf in his film Apoorva Sagotharargal. It was a never seen performance and a novelty that took everybody by surprise. The film was a huge hit and Kamal Haasan won Filmfare award. Recently, Shah Rukh Khan attempted to a play a similar role in Zero but failed.

Indrudu Chandrudu (Major Sahab in Hindi – 1989)

Kamal Haasan played a villain with perfection. His evil looks of a middle-aged man with protruding tummy and buck teeth made him look hideous. Further with his magnetic performance, Kamal made the role gruesome and stunning. Kamal Haasan won Filmfare award.

Michael Madana Kama Rajan - 1990

 Kamal Haasan, put behind legend Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan because the Bollywood stars had done a triple role in Bairag and Mahaan respectively, but Kamal Haasan went a step ahead and played a quadruplets (4 look-alikes) Michael Madana Kama Rajan! The film fetched him a Film fare Best actor.

Chachi 420 - 1997

 Kamal Haasan stunned the audience with his hilarious comedy in the film Chachi 420 the Hindi remake of Avvai Shanmughi (Tamil). The beauty, grace, and perfection with which Kamal Haasan played the role of a middle-aged lady made the critics go gaga over Kamal’s mind-blowing performance. Surprisingly Filmfare did not gave him Best Actor award!!! 

Dasaavatharam - In 2008

Kamal Haasan in Dasaavatharam out beat legendary actors of Indian cinema viz. Sivaji Ganesan, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and Bollywood King Sanjeev Kumar. The trio played 9 different roles in the films Navarathri (1964), Akkineni Nageswara Rao in Navarathri (1966) and Naya Din Nai Raat (1974) but Kamal Haasan played 10 roles in Dasaavatharam!!

Kamal Haasan as Producer

Like Bollywood legends Dilip Kumar and Aamir Khan, Kamal Haasan too has been criticized for interfering with film directors. Thus to solace the inner urge of making a good film, Kamal Haasan started his film Company Raaj Kamal Films International in 1981. The production house produced the first film Raja Paarvai (Tamil - 1981). The story was written by Kamal Haasan and the film was directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. Later the film company made many South Indian language films like Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989), Thevar Magan (1992), Sathi Leelavathi (1995) 

Kamal Haasan took up direction from Chachi 420

In 1997, Kamal Haasan plunged in to film direction with the family comedy Chachi420 .  The success of the film encouraged Kamal and he made some different kind of movies on diverse subjects like Hey Ram, Virumaandi, Vishwaroopam, and Vishwaroopam II