LIFE HISTORY

7-11-1954

Kamal Haasan (born November 7, 1954 in Paramakudi, Madras State, India) is an Indian filmactor, script writer, and filmmaker, considered one of the leading method actors of Indian cinem.[1][2] Hassan is known for winning several Indian film awards, including National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards, and has the distinction of being the actor with the most number of films submitted by India in contest for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In addition to acting and directing, he is a screenwriter, lyricist, playback singer and choreographer. His film production company, Rajkamal International, has produced several of his films.
Kamal Haasan's breakthrough into lead acting came with his role in the 1975 drama, Apoorva Raagangal, in which he played a rebellious youth in love with an older woman. He secured his first National Film Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of a guileless school teacher who tends a child-like amnesiac in 1982's Moondram Pirai. He won his second National Film Award for his portrayal of the Bombay underworld don Varadarajan Mudaliar in Mani Ratnam's film Nayagan (1987), which was ranked by Time magazine as one of the best films of all-time.

Biography

Early career: 1960s – early 1970s

Kamal Haasan in his first appearance, as a six year old, in Kalathur Kannamma
Kamal Haasan made his film debut as a 6-year-old child artiste, in the 1960 film, Kalathur Kannamma, directed by A. Bhimsingh. He was cast along with the veteran Tamil actor Gemini Ganesan in the film, which won him the National Film Award for Best Child Artist. He acted as a child actor in five other Tamil films in the subsequent few years co-starring with popular actors at the era, including Sivaji Ganesan and M. G. Ramachandran.
Following a nine year hiatus from films, to concentrate on his education, Haasan returned with a series of low budget films in 1972, in all of which he played supporting roles to more established actors. These films included roles in Arangetram and Sollathaan Ninaikkiren, both co-starring Sivakumar. His final supporting role before establishing himself as a lead actor was in Naan Avanillai, which became a trendsetter for some of Haasan's later ventures.

Notable filmography
Further information: Kamal Haasan filmography
Year
Title
Role(s)
Language
Notes
1960
Kalathur Kannamma
Selvam
Tamil
Winner: National Film Award for Best Child Artist
1975
Apoorva Raagangal
Prasanna
Tamil
Winner: Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award
1977
16 Vayathinile
Chappani
Tamil
Winner: Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award
1982
Moondram Pirai
Srinivasan
Tamil
Winner: National Film Award for Best Actor
1983
Sagara Sangamam
Balakrishna
Telugu
Winner: Filmfare Best Telugu Actor AwardWinner: Nandi Award for Best Actor
1987
Nayagan
Velu Nayakkar
Tamil
Winner: National Film Award for Best Actor
1988
Pushpak
Pushpak
Silent
Winner: Filmfare Best Kannada Actor Award
1989
Apoorva Sagodharargal
SedhupathyRajaAppu
Tamil
Portrayed three roles; one was a dwarf
1991
Michael Madhana Kamarajan
MichaelMadhanKameshwaranRajan
Tamil
Portrayed four rolesScripted by Kamal HaasanProduced by Kamal Haasan
1992
Thevar Magan
Shakthivelu Thevar
Tamil
Winner: Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award

Produced by Kamal HaasanScripted by Kamal Haasan
1996
Indian
Senapathy BoseChandra Bose
Tamil
Portrayed a dual roleWinner: National Film Award for Best ActorWinner: Filmfare Best TamilActor Award
1998
Chachi 420
Jaiprakash PaswanLakshmi Godbhole
Hindi
Portrayed a dual roleProduced by Kamal HaasanScripted by Kamal HaasanDirected by Kamal Haasan
2000
Hey Ram
Saket Ram
Tamil
Winner: Filmfare Best Tamil Actor AwardSimultaneously made into Hindi as Hey RamProduced by Kamal HaasanScripted by Kamal HaasanDirected by Kamal Haasan
2001
Aalavandhan
Vijay KumarNandhu Kumar
Tamil
Portrayed a dual role
2003
Anbe Sivam
Nalla Sivam
Tamil
Scripted by Kamal Haasan
2004
Virumaandi
Virumaandi
Tamil
Produced by Kamal HaasanScripted by Kamal HaasanDirected by Kamal Haasan
2004
Vasool Raja MBBS
Rajaram
Tamil
Scripted by Crazy Mohan
2005
Mumbai Xpress
Mumbai Xpress
Tamil, Hindi, Telugu
Produced by Kamal HaasanScripted by Kamal Haasan
2005
Rama Shama Bhama
Rama Shama Bhama
Kannada
Produced & Directed by Ramesh Aravind
2006
Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu
Raghavan
Tamil, Telugu
Produced by Manickam NarayananDirected by Gautham Menon
2008
Dasavathaaram
Ten different roles
Tamil
Portrayed 10 different rolesStory, Screenplay and Scripted by Kamal Haasan