logo

The 54 year old veteran and one of the finest method actors cinema has ever seen is only 2 shy of 50 years in cinema and His dil still maangs for more !!!

“what would you have been doing if you weren’t an actor?”
“I would still be trying”

The 10th grade drop out who is now addressed as “Padma shri Dr kamal hasan!!!” modestly says by rolling his eyes that acting is the only thing he knows and ya we can trust him there!!!

It all started with A Bhimsingh’s “Kallathoor Kannama” (1960).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odHgGJx_4to

(sorry was not able to embed this video, ctrl C & ctrl V this link )
“Ammavum neeyae Appavum Neeyae”

and nothing has stopped him, its strange that just like many greats he too wanted to do something else (Film maker) and says that Acting was by default ( Sachin wanted to be a fast bowler !!!).

Having been brought up in “madurai”- I was exposed to Tamil films with a dose of hard boiling fan clubs !!!
I have been late to school due to the hill of men overflowing the ticket counters to block the streets on the first day of a kamal or rajni kanth film. I have seen chappals and vegetables thrown at the villains on screen of a kamal or rajni kanth film. I have heard stories of Aarti been taken for Rajni kanth’s stilled frame of his first scene appearance in any movie. I have seen dancing on and tearing of cinema hall seats. I have seen fights between rival fan groups (some bloody ones too). Long back most of the roads in Anna nagar were blocked as Rajni kanth’s PA had come for the 100th day of some film (guess it was Baasha or Muthu).

In a land where Heroes and actors are treated as demigods (a temple for Kushboo), I got a chance to see most of my passive guru’s (kamal hasan) films. I have always encountered or been part of conflicts between the rajni fan club and kamal hasan fan club which still continues as Vijay Vs Ajith and hence amidst all this chaos the concept of an actor’s efforts to get noticed and appreciated for his acting is brushed under the carpet and replaced by the SUPER-HERO-within-us type acting. In a land where it has almost become mandatory for any actor to create a fan club and maintain the same for his own survival, Kamal hasan liquidated his!!! And he still survives and how !!!

I will now take you through my favourite Kamal Hasan films since my birth (1984) … in no particular order

Nayagan
Aandavar doing a vito corleone… the grunts…the raised eye brows … the cold stares… the agony … the pain… the power … the loss …THE HERO !!!

Satya
Angry young man !?!?!? … AB you dint see this!!!

Guna
This is one of the best scenes in the movie … single shot .. change of emotions … raw … god how did he miss the NA ?!?!?

Mahanadi
(no comments)

Apurva sahodaragal
Aandavar proves it again !!! he sets the bar and then pulls the bar stool

Pushpak
“Micheal madan kama ragan” “apoorva sohadarargal” “pushpak (silent feature) … the combi of singeetham and kamal … 3 purely out of the box films in the same decade .. PNU u will not get this again in a life time !!!

Indian/ Hindustani
National award number 3 … by now national award gets the pride when it is awarded to “Kamal hasan” .. so I rephrase it … “national award wins a Kamal hasan “

Anbae sivam

Thevar magan
Aandavar with his guru … (this screen time is as precious as the brando and al pacino moment in god father )

Virumaandi

I got more for you but not yet … will be continued !!!

1 readers recommend this post  Loading ...	Email This Post To Friends
Related Posts Dasavathaaram - 10 Kamals but where is my Kamal Rajni…. Kamal Hasan - Can he act now in an Ordinary role? Ek Nayee Pahelee(’84)::Love tale of young & old, No Lolita connection! The Rise and Fall and Fall of Kamal Hassan Soumitra NATIONAL BEST ACTOR 2006 Rajni, the boss; Shankar, not quite Benegal gets Dada Saheb Phalke