Padma Shri Kamal Haasan

Kamal Haasan (born November 7, 1954 in Paramakudi, India) is an Indian film actor and director, considered among the leading method actors of Indian cinema. 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 Indian National Film Award for his portrayal of a guileless school teacher who tends a child-like amnesiac in 1982's Moondram Pirai. He was particularly noted for his performance in Mani Ratnam's GodfatheresqeNayagan (1987), which was ranked by Time magazine as one of the best films of all-time.

Hey Ram and onwards

Following a two year hiatus in Indian cinema, Haasan opted against reviving his magnum opus, Marudhanayagam and filmed his second directorial venture, Hey Ram, a period drama told in flashback with a semi-fictional plot centering around India's Partition and the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Haasan also donned technical roles as the writer, the lyricist and the choreogrpaher as well as producing the film under his home banner. The bilingual venture, starring himself in the lead role alongside Shahrukh Khan and Rani Mukerji failed to become successful commercially but became critically acclaimed. Haasan was praised for his "technical wizardry" and acting, but critics called the film "hard to categorize" and "too controversial". His following film, the much-hyped Aalavandhan, where he portrayed two distinct roles; of one, he had his head tonsured and gained ten kilograms for also failed to live up to expectations at the box-office.

Following a series of successful comedies in Thenali, Panchathantiram and Pammal K.Sambantham and a couple of guest appearances, Haasan directed his third feature film in Virumaandi. Virumandi, became the first Tamil film to feature different sides of the story, surrounding the controversy of the death penalty. Haasan's directorial work earned reviews that claimed it was "technical excellence in every sphere", however the film only broke even at the box-office, failing to capitalize on its publicity. Haasan also appeared in Anbe Sivam alongside close friend, Madhavan, in a film he was claimed to have ghost-directed. Priyadarshan, who started the film departed allowing commercial director Sundar C make a film unknown to his usual genre; furthermore the film also preached views of atheism, which Haasan is renowned for following. Anbe Sivam told the story of Nallasivam, enacted by Haasan as an idealist, social activist and communist, whose past is poignant and present moving. Kamal Haasan's performance was highly lauded by critics with The Hindu stating that Haasan "has once again done Tamil cinema proud", however in contrast, the film failed to become a success, with Haasan later lashing out at award judges, claiming he deserved credit for his script writing and acting.

Haasan's long delayed project, Vettaiyaadu VilaiyaaduHaasan appeared in the remake film, Vasool Raja alongside Sneha, which triumphed at the box-office, whilst his following film, Mumbai Express, which he had written for flopped at the box-office, as it opened with the record-breaking Rajnikanth starrer, Chandramukhi. In 2006, became a blockbuster at the box office. Gautham Menon's Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu was Haasan's first cop film in adecade since Kuruthipunal, earning his portrayal as the New York detective rave reviews. The forthcoming production, Dasavatharam is the longest film taken for Kamal Haasan to complete. Pairing opposite Asin Thottumkal, Haasan reprises ten roles in the film, a couple of which are claimed to have taken nearly four hours to apply the correct make-up on. The film, which Haasan had to go to court to sort out story legalities, is set for release in April 2008 and is set to become the most expensive Indian film to date, passing the mark of Sivaji: The Boss, which Dasavatharam was initially to release against simultaneously.

Following the completion of Dasavatharam, Haasan is set to direct his fourth directorial venture under the production of Walt Disney Pictures, who by backing Haasan, make their debut in Indian cinema.The film tentiatively titled Marmayogi, is believed to be set in the 7th century and feature several leading stars in the lead roles alongside Haasan. The film was announced with a higher budget than Dasavatharam and the upcoming science-fiction Rajnikanth starrer, Robot, which Marmayogi has been dubbed to compete against. Haasan has still expressed desire in completing his magnum opus, Marudhanayagam if producers will to help him out, however the film if released will be spanned at a duration of over nearly fifteen years, failing to maintain consistency in technology.

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 Abrahan Koovar National Award for his Humanist Activities and Secular Life.

Kamal Hassan also was conferred the Nandi Award 20 times in his lifetime.