'Thangappan master's assistant to Ulaganayagan'; Kamal Haasan at 70

Actor luminary Kamal Haasan is celebrating his 70th birthday today. An actor, singer, director, producer, dance director and lyricist, this Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram native has left no stone unturned in cinema.

He was born in a typical Tamil Iyengar family in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. Kamala Haasan's father D Srinivasan was a criminal lawyer. After completing his schooling in his native village, Kamal reached the megalopolis of Madras only to pursue his higher education. It was his father Srinivasan’s untrammelled support that helped Kamal pursue a career of his liking.

Kamal Haasan also won the President's Gold Medal for Best Child Actor for his performance in 'Kalathur Kannamma'. He acted as a child actor in more than five films. Amidst small movie roles, Kamal tried a career as a choreographer and worked as veteran Thangappan's master's assistant. However, director Kailasam Balachandar recognized the actor in Kamal and offered him a role. This became an epoch in Tamil Film history as the South Indian realm saw the emergence of a new movie phenomenon.

Kamal Haasan achieved pan-Indian super status with successful films released in various languages ​​such as the Malayalam film Kanyakumari, Apoorva Ragangal (1975), Maro Charithra (1978) and Ek Duje Keliye (1981).

He has won four National Film Awards for Best Actor, 19 Filmfare Awards, Kalaimamani, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and many other awards for his contribution to cinema. In 2016, the French government honoured Kamal with the prestigious Chevalier.

Actor Madhu:

Shooting was progressing for ‘Manyasree Viswamithran’ in 1974. There was a dance sequence in the climax and it was to be done under the tutelage of Thangappan master, the choreographer. I was not fully confident about doing the dance moves since I doubted my body shape and concluded that it was not fit for dance. Whatever Thangappan master showed me, I failed to reenact. It was simply not coming to me. Later, a lanky boy approached me and respectfully told me to copy his dance moves. He was Thangappan master’s assistant. The boy made the dance moves look simple and I grasped it easily. I felt no tension and brought the moves easily in front of the camera. The boy dance assistant later became Ulanaganayakan, Kamal Haasan’.

What made him different was his sincerity and commitment to work. Kamal Haasan had a special love for Malayalam and Kerala. He has expressed it. The same goes for the Malayalees. We have seen Kamal as our own, not as a Tamil actor. To my knowledge, no other actor in the world has 65 years of acting career. I still have a premonition about Kamal’s political entry. He could have used that time too on his career. Despite 65 years in the film field, people are still waiting for his films. There is still a long path ahead for the actor in Kamal.”