Kamal – Kya Kamaal hai Yaar !

Kamal Hassan - a Smiling Lotus 

   Kamal - Lotus
   Hassan (Derived from Hasya)- Smile

Dr.KAMAL

Intro Vid of Ulaga Nayagan (Universal Hero):

                                         

(All of the below mentioned films are cult and classics – Must watch)

An Autistic’s innocence –    Swathi Muthyam

A doting father’s love    -   Chachi 420 and INDIAN

The heartbreak of a father  - Mahanadi

A love failure’s feelings    - Saagar and Appu Raja

A Passionate lover’s seductive entice – Hey Ram and almost in every movie :P

An INA soldier’s Martyrdom - INDIAN

An unemployed youth’s anguish – AAKALI RAJYAM and pushpak

The Police officer’s guts – Drohi  and Raaghavan

The rustic rowdy’s tantrums – Virumandi a.ka. Pothuraju

A dance master’s grace -  Saagar Sangamam(classical dance) and Punnai Magan(modern)

A women’s chameleon – Chachi 420

A communist’s ideology - Anbe Sivam

A humanitarian’s heart – Anbe Sivam a.ka. Sathyame sivam

A bigot’s chauvinistic perspective – Hey Ram( a MUST MUST watch)

A Psychopath’s delusion- Abhay

A mentally affected lunatic’s pure love – Guna

An Indian Godfather’s role – Nayakan a.ka Nayakudu

A leader-fighting village’s feud- Thevar Magan a.ka. Kshatriyaputrudu

The beauty of a blind musicians’ love- Raaja Parvai a.ka Amaavasya chandrudu

The fury of a angry priest - Dasavatharam


( I think only characters he hasnot  done are : gay,hijra and transgender. he covered everything  dad,brother, lover,Autistic, Psychopath, Misogynist,police, social reformer,communist,gangster,serial killer,INA soldier,Corrupt politician,blind musician,Rustic rowdy, neurotic comedian,charlie chaplin, dance master,Angry priest,professor,village leader,factionist, grandmother and grandfather) 

Have you seen/witnessed  the above  in one artist-?

If the answer is yes, then you are one of the innumerable die-hard fans of Kamal Sir (as Iam )– We , fondly call ourselves Kamal freaks.

I felt during this weekend that time is hanging heavily on my hands , so I spent my time in writing this blog post.

As a freak, I would like to sneak a peek  into the unique personality of a true legend in our lifetime and share some titbits. Please bear in mind that this post is shared absolutely because it piques my intellect and definitely not at all a critique. Beware, this post could be as long as the Kamal’s career-52 years (he turned 57 on Nov 07), perhaps the longest in my list.

Let us say belated  Happy bday :)







Paintings unveiled by kamal on Nov 07,2012 for painter Sreedhar.

 

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Rendezvous with the Revered artist:

            Long... long …ago ,on one bright summer day, in torrid sun, our family was hurtling in the heavy traffic on a Chetak scooter (I was a fourth or fifth grade kid standing in the front with hands resting on the handle’s mound, my small bro in mother’s lap at the back and father throttling the roaring Engine) in Vijayawada city. Our goal was to catch a glimpse of the just released controversial film.

Only to find  there a big board saying – “house-full”. Dad managed to get tickets in black of course at double the original price. We were delighted and I remember with childish enthusiasm we watched the movie but sadly sitting at different places.

We had a motto- Once we decide to watch a film be it rain or sun, we would “go great guns” J and it still applies to this day.

As Senapathy-INDIAN

The movie is none other than - Bharateeyudu a.ka. Hindustani/INDIAN- My rendezvous with the (most) revered film artist in Indian cinema happened. Ever Since my fascination with Kamal and Subhas Chandra Bose (Netaji) took roots and has grown leaps and bounds with time. (I will save my adoration for Netaji in future blog post :P) I was spellbound with the performance. My mother said the old Kamal (Senapathy with silver hair) resembles her father and to this day, my friends (while they were watching for the first time)say that they never recognized that Kamal played a dual role in that film  – no surprise it fetched him the third National award.     

MY number one fav lovely song of alltime: Iam still waiting  but in vain for another such a beautiful ..adoring song  

I never missed any opportunity to watch his films be it in Movie Theater, on T.V or by VCP (video Casette player). 

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Everest as an actor:

He started as a child artiste and starred in 200 films till date in major Indian languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalaam and Hindi. A polyglot: He is so versatile that he learnt many languages - not just speak but very fluently in Tamil, English, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Bengali, Kannada and French. 

I have compiled the greatest scenes that I could lay my hands on.Hope you people enjoy it ! Don’t worry about the language -his emotions&action defy language barriers -just watch it (I seriously doubt if you can finish reading this post, if you do so L ).

 That is the reason his scenes are so emotive and natural.
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Appu raja(Vichitra Sodarulu)HINDI - Version

A heart breaking scene and a TEAR-Jerker . I always think was the girl blind?

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Sadma(HINDI version)- The last scene is so truthful to its meaning – a TRAUMA (crying is allowed)

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Saagar (Hindi)– Love failure’s evergreen song.

This was the second instance in the history of Filmfare Awards where an actor has been nominated for both Best Actor as well as Best Actor in Supporting role. Ofcrz, winning only Best Actor.

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Heyram(HINDI)- OMG this is not for the faint-hearted .Please don’t watch if you are one. Depicts the gruesomeness of communal riots.

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Why Kamal Hassan is the best lover onscreen......!!! 

Warning – Steaming hot

Best Kisser 

I personally think Kamal can only depict that INDIAN sensuality  onscreen.

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Polyglot: Check this 

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Father sentiment:

Nayagan(HINDI version): Heart-touching - Godfatheresque role in INDIAN CINEMA - Second National Award
In 2005, the Time Magazine included Nayagan in its list of "All-Time 100 Best Films"
On 21st October 2012, the film completed its silver jubilee of its success.

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Heart-breaking Scene:

Mahanadi(TAMIL)
: Kamal Hassan has delivered a knockout performance in this under-rated classic., As per the storyline, he goes searching for his daughter and finds her in a brothel in Calcutta. This scene will make anyone cry...

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POTHURAJU-(TAMIL version)written and directed by kamal

Potraying a Rustic rowdy :damn realistic performance. Believe me or not After watching this film, I started to talk in a non-abusive but rustic slang with my roommate and even had a skirmish for a petty thing. –got influenced by that character.

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Humanitarian(TAMIL):

Sathyame Sivam(script written by KAMAL-  Kamal’s new definition for God – must watch(with English Subtitles)

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Dancer: Dancing prowess - mind boggling 

Inexplicable bliss  to watch..Many youth started learning classical dance after watching him dance.

Sagara Sangamam(Straight Telugu movie)- classical

As -Dance Master - modern 

Punnai Magan 

Can anyone dance with his grace? 

one more

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Pushpaka Vimana – a silent film with king-for-a-day story - worth watching but needs patience

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Aakali Rajyam (an unemployed hungry youth with self-integrity struggling for survival in this brutal world)

This movie shows the era, when there were no jobs but teeming youth  - Must watch for youth.

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Bharateeyudu(TAMIL version):  Best movie made till date by SHankar

No words to describe

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Chachi 420:  kamal a chameleon – fun to watch

Check this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPTbFNtzkds  or  

Click on below text:

Kamal as chameleon

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Dasavatharam - Priest getting crucified.

goosebumps all over - A must watch for it's picturisation

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Illayaraja vs Kamal

If you closely observe all most all videos’  background music is  composed by Illayaraja sir.

It is a wide known fact that Kamal always pulls Illayaraja to score music. It is a feast to watch these two legends compete in the film –one with music, the other with emotions. Difficult to say who won – ultimately audience are delighted.

Gurus and mentors:

    Left: Viswanath; Middle: Balachander 

He often acknowledges that he is indebted to the real heroes (gurus and mentors) – K. Balachander and K. Vishwanath (legendary directors), who nurtured him, when he was a budding artist and offered him challenging roles and pushed him to a level unknown or unheard before.

Unparallel in INDIAN cinema:

His innovative acting has earned him the title "the first, and perhaps the last, complete hero in Indian Cinema"

Myriad personality

He is most successful and one of the leading method actors in INDIAN cinema.He has famously said that he is a reluctant actor. He has an avid interest in every aspect of filmmaking and is known for his work as a choreographer, director, and writer.  He has been songwriter, playback singer and choreographer. A little known fact is: he started off the career as a choreographer in Telugu film industry.

Abhay-Dual role

Comedy  par Excellence: He is one of the few actors ,who can play both serious and comedy roles.

As a hero is  the frontrunner in potraying subtle comedy (thanks to his association with Driector-Singeetham Srinivasa Rao ). Micheal-Madana-KamRaju ,Thenali and Pushpak are the best examples. 

They tickle your funny bone  and makes you watch them again and again .

Singeetham

 He is also a poet and has already released the compilation in a book. He is widely known for his writing skills He was also involved in running a magazine that deals with wide range of subjects.

HeyRam

HeyRam

He wrote his first script at age 18 for the film "Unarchigal" (1976), which was then followed by films that have gone on to become cult classics - Rajapaarvai (1981), Sathya (1988), Apoorva Sahotharargal (1989), Thevar Magan (1992), Mahanadi (1994), Kurudhippunal (1995), Avvai Shanmugi (1996), Hey Ram (2000), Pammal K Sambandam (2002), Panchathanthiram (2002), Anbe Sivam (2003), are a few of the films etched in popular memory for having set the bar for craftsmanship in the fields of screenplay, script, and dialogue.







He is also a prolific writer of fiction and non-fiction in Tamil and his published work is testament to his constant exploration of structure and form.

Music:

Singer

Dr.Balamurali

Kamal Haasan is also a student of Carnatic music, studying under musical maestro Dr. Balamuralikrishna. One of his biggest hits as a playback singer was the song "Inji Iduppazhagi" for the film Thevar Magan.

For a popular hero, all of the above skills are unparalled in INDIAN cinema – the scope and depth of his talent can only be measured by his passion.

Make-up:

Kamal-Dasavatar

Westmore

He is a very good friend of Michael Westmore(Hollywood makeup artist) and considers him as his guru . Westmore is instrumental in many of Kamal’s success(movies in which kamal metamorphosis into a different characters ), which involved lot of makeup – which is not at all easy – really a painful thing to endure so many hours with make-up.

Trivia:

He is a High-school dropout. World is his School and college ; Life is his teacher.

1. Awarded Padmashri and  Kalaimamani

PADMASHREE

Kamal is the receipent of honorary doctorate from Sathyabama University.

2. Kamal's hobby is magic.

MarmaYogi

3. Three National Awards – Listed in Chronological order.

National FILM awards

Moondram Pirai(Sadma) 1982

Nayagan- 1987

INDIAN- 1996

Filmfare

4. Filmfare Awards: Kamal Haasan happens to be the one and only Indian actor bagging  19 Filmfare awards.

Abhay- Fearless

5.Seven movies that he has starred in have been sent to represent India in Oscars for Best foreign movie category, highest by any Indian.

6.Rajnikanth  gifted a painting for his friend ( both are students under same mentor Balanchander) commemorating  Kamal's 50 years in film industry.

Goddess of Art

The painting has Goddess of Art carrying Kamal in her arms, and superstars Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Mohanlal, Kannada superstar Vishnuvaradhan and Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi as kids who are playing and following them. Only photos of two stalwarts of Tamil Cinema hang on Kamal's walls and they are Sivaji Ganesan and Nagesh.And this painting going to be the third and last picture .

7. click here for List of Awards and nominations.

Kamal has the highest nominations from India for Oscars . He truly deserves an Oscar- rather Oscar Deserves Him . He never gave any heck of thought or cussing as he knows he already got Indian Oscar- National Award. He proudly says that Indian Actors need not cry or crave for a foreign acknowledgement of our Indian Talent.

People often say that if Kamal were born in a foreign land like USA - he would have got International Recognition and base. I beg to differ (as Balachander said) only becuase of INDIAn diversity he developed into a Versatile actor.

 8. Next Bharath Ratna- I am Sure he will be awarded the highest civilian award - Bharath Rathna. Many people would be pumping their chests with pride watching that moment in awe and admiration.(I hope to live to witness that glory)

Personal Life:

Despite his celebrated film career, the media often exploited him for his relationships that went sour because of promiscuity with younger actresses. I personally believe that very talented persons have been like that for example- Charlie Chaplin – Chaplin was married four times and had a total of 11 children

Vani ganapathy-Indian classical danseuse

Sarika

Gouthami

I am for a second neither advocating promiscuity nor indulgence. My opinion is that we should leave the personal side of their lives and see what we enjoy most – their artistry at work.

Rationalist to the Core:

He encourages debates and discussion on socially relevant issues and never shies away to express his opinion. He is an atheist and completely rational at heart. He always tries hard to portray the same as a writer in his works. (Anbe Sivam is a masterpiece in that).

Viswaroop: 

Iam eagerly waiting for his next film (a whopping 150 cr budget) on the cards –

watch this Hindi Trailler -Song sung by noneother than KAMAL

“Viswaroopam”. After watching the trailer, it is amazing to see a 57 year old guy dancing as a classical dance master and at the same time playing the role of a Secret agent.And he is the producer,director ,hero and writer,lyricist all rolled into one .

Tryst with Hollywood:

If the reports are true then kamal is gearing up for a big Hollywood project.

He will be making his Hollywood debut with The Lord of the Rings producer Barrie Osborne, who hopes to tell an Indian story in Hollywood style. The international filmmaker says Kamal is like a cinema encyclopedia. No wonder because Kamal has been keenly observing the trends in Hollywood from several decades and always ready to experiment.

Kamal and Osborne announced their tie-up at the recently held International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend in Singapore.

Hope this project will make his title – Universal Hero – more meaningful and historic

Limitations….. No way?

He inspires me a lot. His works -provoke us to think deeply. Artistry- titillates our spirits of NavaRasa  .Energises and entertains our souls making our hearts warm.

 His intrepid themes and subjects push us to question our limits.

It is not at all an exagerration to say -Countless artists especially film artists are inspired for a lifetime and dedicated their life for films Only becuase of Kamal .

He is well known for tweaking his body for his projects brutally and with complete dedication.
watch the Marmayogi trailer(unfortunately, the project was shelved because of budgeting reasons)....

After watching kamal one can only say:

We can achieve whatever we want ..  there is no limitation at all…. Except  limitation in our own   imagination . ....

Hats off to you Sir, 

Your message is so simple and humble -  

A Must Must Must Must Must Must Must Must watch below VIDEO .... Wonderful. Mind blowing....

Jaw-dropping illustration of Kama's life in his own Words. Believe me u will get astounded.

Kamal wrote these lines in his official FB page-KAMAL on  FB

https://www.facebook.com/kamalhaasan.theofficialpage

"Thanks Rajini (Babu) for brilliantly illustrating my confounding but simple travel in life, to reach this present state of temporary wisdom.

Yes!

Wisdom is not a permanent state, like art you can lose it if you don't practice enough. All the very best.

-Kamal Haasan"