Jagmohan Singh Barhok’s POST
“An Excellent Performer & Charismatic Star-Kamal Hasan”
On His Birth Anniversary
हम बने तुम बने एक दूजे के लिये
उस को क़सम लगे जो बिछड़ के इक पल भी जिये
हम बने तुम बने एक दूजे के लिये
Kamal Hasan is a well known Tamil actor & filmmaker who started his career as a child artist in a Tamil film. He was introduced to Hindi cinema buffs in “Ek Duke Ke Liye” (1981) opposite Rati Agnihotri. The film was liked by the cine goers & critics alike for its inter – caste love theme. He later worked in “Saagar” & “Chachi 420” & was praised for his performance.
His role as a rebellious lad in ‘Apoorva Raagangal’ brought him into limelight. He plays one who falls for an older woman. It was followed by ‘Moondram Pirai’ (1982) earning him his first Indian National Film Award. It revolves around a sincere school teacher who rescues a woman with retrograde amnesia from a brothel, protects & helps her recover her loss of memory. Directed by Balu Mahendra, the film stars Sridevi as the woman whom Kamal Haasan rescues. The film enjoyed a theatrical run of over a year and received critical acclaim from various quarters. The film won two National Film Awards: Best Actor for Haasan, and Best Cinematography for Mahendra. The film also won Filmfare (South) Award for director Balu Mahendra besides several State Awards.
Mahendra later ventured to make ‘Moondram Pirai’ in Hindi titled “Sadma” (1983) featuring Kamal Haasan, Sridevi and Silk Smitha reprising their roles. I watched both versions on my laptop to be fully acquainted with the plot & the role played by Sridevi & Silk Smitha- the seductive South Sex Siren, especially in a dance sequence with Kamal Haasan on a Mountain Top. The film Bombed at the Box Office because the audience, especialy followers of Kamal Haasan, could not digest the unhappy ending with the Hero shocked & heartbroken as he watches Sridevi happily leave with her parents in a moving train.
Mani Ratnam’s “Nayakan” (1987) added another feather in his cap though the film could not be included in the list for an Oscar, presumably because of songs & their Indian style picturization seen as not commensurate with the taste of American audience. Nevertheless, the film was included among the 100 best films of all time by Time magazine.
Married Vani Ganapathy whom he divorced in 1988 & married actress Sarika divorcing her, too in 2004. His daughter Shruti Hasan is a known South actress. Said to be one of the Highest paid
actors in 1990s. “Hey Ram” (2000) directed by him & starring Shah Rukh Khan, Hema Malini, Rani Mukerji, Girish Karnad, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri & Haasan himself proved a Box Office disaster. Hasan later featured as a Host in most popular TV show Bigg Boss Tamil in 2017. He ventured to have a go in politics & lost to BJP candidate by a narrow margin in 2021.
