Happy Birthday Kamal Haasan: Nayagan to Hey Ram, 5 films you shouldn't miss
As the thespian turns a year older today, we look at five outstanding performances of veteran actor Kamal Haasan.
Kamal Haasan is one of the finest actors in India. Over the years, the Vishwaroopam star has never ceased to amaze the audience with his terrific performance. In a career spanning over five decades, Haasan has played innumerable characters.
So far, Kamal Haasan has received three National Awards for Best Actor and several international recognition. As the thespian turns a year older today, we look at five outstanding performances of veteran actor Kamal Haasan.
Moondram Pirai:
Balu Mahendra's classic left the audience awestruck when it hit the theatres. The disturbing climax had people in tears and one couldn't stop empathising with Kamal Haasan's character. The film tells the story of Cheenu, who falls in love with an amnesiac patient Bhagyalakshmi (Sridevi). The way Haasan emotes in the film, goes without saying, makes it a top-notch performance. Kamal Haasan received his first National Award for Moondram Pirai.
Salangai Oli:
Salangai Oli is based on Balakrishna, a trained
Kuchipudi dancer, and Kamal Hassan had to learn Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi
and Kathak to get a hang of it for his character in the film. Salangai
Oli received the National Award for the Best Feature Film and it was
screened at the International Film Festival of India in 1984. After all
these years, the film is still remembered in the industry for the sheer
brilliance of a scene where Kamal showcases the various Indian classical
dances.
Nayagan:
When Mani Ratnam's Nayagan saw the light of the day, it
not only ruffled the traditional audience but also became a landmark
film in India. Nayagan made it to Time Magazine's All-Time100 Best
Films. While people misrepresent Nayagan as India's reply to Godfather,
in actuality, it was based on real-life Mumbai don Varadaraja Mudaliar.
Kamal Haasan's portrayal of Velu Naicker's journey still leaves us with
goosebumps, especially the confrontation scene with his rebellious
daughter Charumathi.
Hey Ram:
One of the most underrated films in Indian cinema.
Hey Ram is a multi-layered film, whose core is the assassination of
Mahatma Gandhi.The film deals with Hindu-Muslim conflicts against the
backdrop of the Partition. Kamal Haasan received flak from Hindu
extremists for the volatile content of the film. A ban on the film was
also demanded. Like many of his films, Kamal Haasan's Hey Ram was also
India's official entry to the Oscars that year.
Anbe Sivam:
Anbe Sivam tells the story of an unexpected
journey undertaken by Nallasivam (Kamal Haasan) and Anbarasu (Madhavan) -
two men with opposing ideologies. Anbe Sivam touches upon several
themes, including communism, atheism and altruism, and resonates
Haasan's core principle of being a Humanist. Kamal Hassan in the scene
where he explains the whole concept of 'Love is God' gives an all-new
dimension to the audience's perception of life and divinity.