Kamal Hasan born on November 7, 1954, Mother Tongue - Tamil) is a four time (1960, 1983, 1988 and 1997) National Film Award winning Indian film actor. He began his career as a child artist in many films, while also attending a theatre for stage plays. Kamal Haasan has acted in over two hundred Indian films.
Kamal Hassan has received India's fourth highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri for his services to Indian cinema in 1990. His popular films include Moondram Pirai (1982), Saagara Sangamam (1983), Nayagan (1987), Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990), Indian (1996), Hey Ram (2000), Anbe Sivam (2003). In his currently unreleased film Dasavatharam, he attempts to portray ten different characters.
Biography
Kamal is the youngest of four children born to Rajalakshmi and Srinivasan Iyengar. His Mother Tongue is Tamil. His father, an attorney, gave all his sons (Charu Haasan Iyengar, Chandra Haasan Iyengar, Kamal Haasan ) the last name of "Haasan" as a sign of his friendship to Mr. Haasan. He is also a self professed atheist and follower of E. V. Ramasami Naicker. He married Vani Ganpati in 1978, divorced in 1988 to marry Sarika, ending in a divorce in 2003. He has two daughters with Sarika, Shruti Haasan, now a singer and Akshara. His career has spanned over 35 years and he has acted over 200 films in various languages.
Seventies
In 1972 K.S.Sethumadhavan introduced him in the lead role in the malayalam film Kanayakumari. his other big hits in Malayalam include Vishnu Vijayam, Ormagal marikkumo and Yeetta.
Kamal Haasan and Sri Devi were a popular acting pair and have acted together in 23 films. In many of his late 1970s films, he was usually the hero, with Rajinikanth as the villain.
2000 – present
It has been reported in the media that Kamal Haasan will be producing a film to be directed by Mani Ratnam which will have Rajnikanth and Kamal Haasan playing the lead roles. If the project materialises, this would be the first time these three big names in Tamil cinema would feature together in a movie. Rajnikanth has however denied any such plans.
Hollywood remakes
Avvai Shanmugi and Chachi 420 were inspired by Mrs. Doubtfire. Anbe Sivam was inspired by Planes, Trains & Automobiles was directed John Hughes. Sathi Leelavathi was inspired by She-Devil (film). Vetri Vizha was loosely based upon the novel The Bourne Identity and Magalir Mattum was inspired by Nine to Five.
Awards
Kamal is the only actor to receive four National Film Awards in India. He won his National awards for the films Nayagan, Moondram Pirai and Indian. He also won the national award for Best Child Actor for his performance in Kalathur Kannamma He has also received the best actor award at the Asian Film festivals held in 1983 and 1985 for Saagara Sangamam and Swathi Muthyam respectively. Seven of his movies have been sent as India's official entry to the Oscars. Kamal has won the Filmfare awards 18 times.
He was awarded the fourth highest recognition given to Indian civilians - the Padmashri in 1990. He was conferred an honorary doctorate by Sathyabama University, Chennai in 2005.
Kamal was also conferred with a unique honour this year(2007) as "Living Legend" in the film business by FICCI,India.
The all awards presented to him were for his artistic talent. He got the first Abraham Kovoor National Award for his Humanist Activities and Secular Life.
Kamal Hassan also was conferred the Nandi Award 20 times in his lifetime.
Career as a film producer
Kamal started his foray into film production with 'Raaja Paarvai' in 1981. The film was a commercial failure, though critically well received. A more recent production was the film Virumaandi in 2004. His privately held production house Raj Kamal Films produced several classics like Apoorva Sagodharargal, Thevar Magan, Kuruthipunal etc. His more recent production ventures include the films Virumaandi and Mumbai Xpress.
His magnum opus, Marudha Naayagam' is delayed due to many reasons.
In 2005, he launched a new business unit called Raj Kamal Audio in a drive to corporatise all his film commitments. In 2006, he purchased prime real estate for a state-of-the-art multiplex cinema.
