Kamal Hasan

Kamal Haasan (born 7 November 1954) is an Indian actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, playback singer, television presenter and politician who works mainly in Tamil cinema and has also appeared in some Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada and Bengali films. He has been recognised as an influence for actors and filmmakers in the Tamil film industry. He is also known for introducing many new technologies and cosmetics to the Indian film industry. He has won numerous accolades, including four National Film Awards and 20 Filmfare Awards. He was awarded the Kalaimamani Award in 1984, the Padma Shri in 1990, the Padma Bhushan in 2014 and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (''Chevalier'') in 2016.

Haasan started his career as a child artist in the 1960 Tamil-language film ''Kalathur Kannamma'', for which he won the President's Gold Medal. His breakthrough as a lead actor came in the 1975 drama '' Apoorva Raagangal'', directed by K. Balachander, in which he played a rebellious youth who falls in love with an older woman. He won his first National Film Award for his portrayal of a guileless school teacher who cares for a woman who suffers from retrograde amnesia in '' Moondram Pirai'' (1982). He was noted for his performances in K. Viswanath's ''Swathi Muthyam'' (1986), Mani Ratnam's ''Nayakan'' (1987), and S. Shankar's '' Indian'' (1996). Since then he has appeared in films including ''Hey Ram'' (2000), ''Virumaandi'' (2004), ''Dasavathaaram'' (2008) in which he played ten roles, '' Vishwaroopam'' (2013) and '' Vikram'' (2022). His production company, Raaj Kamal Films International, has produced several of his films.

For his philanthropic efforts, Haasan received the first Abraham Kovoor National Award in 2004. He was project ambassador for the Hridayaragam 2010 event, which raised funds for an orphanage for HIV/AIDS-affected children. In September 2010, Haasan launched a children's cancer relief fund and gave roses to children with cancer at Sri Ramachandra University in Porur, Chennai. Haasan was nominated by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Swachh Bharat Mission. On 21 February 2018, Haasan formally launched his political party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (lit. People's Justice Centre). He has also received the Golden Visa from United Arab Emirates.

Early life and family

Haasan was born on 7 November 1954, in a Tamil Iyengar Brahmin family, to D. Srinivasan, who was a lawyer and freedom fighter, and Rajalakshmi, who was a housewife. Haasan was initially named as Parthasarathy. His father later changed his name to Kamal Haasan. His brothers, Charuhasan (born 1930) and Chandrahasan (born 1936), have also acted. Haasan's sister, Nalini (born 1946), is a classical dancer. He received his primary education in Paramakudi before moving to Madras (now Chennai) as his brothers pursued their higher education. Haasan continued his education in Santhome, Madras, and was attracted towards film and fine arts as encouraged by his father.

Film career

1960–1963

When a physician friend of his mother, visited A. V. Meiyappan (AVM) to treat his wife, she brought Haasan with her. Apparently impressed by his demeanor AVM's son, M. Saravanan, recommended him for their production ''Kalathur Kannamma''. Haasan won the Rashtrapati Award (President's gold medal) for his performance in ''Kalathur Kannamma'' at age six and starred in five more films as a child. He debuted in the Malayalam film industry with ''Kannum Karalum'' (1962). Upon his father's encouragement, he joined a repertory company (T. K. S. Nataka Sabha) headed by T. K. Shanmugam. In the meanwhile, he continued his education at the Hindu Higher Secondary School in Triplicane