KAMAL HASSAN's Biography

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 Godfatheresque Nayagan (1987), which was ranked by Time magazine as one of the best films of all-time.
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.

Haasan filmography

Year Title Role(s) Language Notes
1960 Kalathur Kannamma Tamil Winner: National Film Award for Best Child Artist
1975 Apoorva Raagangal Prasanna Tamil Winner: Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award
1977 16 Vayathinile Chappani Tamil Winner: Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award
1982 Moondram Pirai Srinivasan Tamil Winner: National Film Award for Best Actor
1983 Sagara Sangamam Balakrishna Telugu Winner: Filmfare Best Telugu Actor Award
1987 Nayagan Velu Nayakkar Tamil Winner: National Film Award for Best Actor
1988 Pushpak Pushpak Silent Winner: Filmfare Best Kannada Actor Award
1989 Apoorva Sagodharargal Sedhupathy/Raja/Appu Tamil Portrayed triple roles
1991 Michael Madhana Kamarajan Michael/Madhan/Kameshwaran/Rajan Tamil Portrayed four roles
Scripted by Kamal Haasan
Produced by Kamal Haasan
1992 Thevar Magan Shakthivelu Thevar Tamil Winner: Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award
Produced by Kamal Haasan
Scripted by Kamal Haasan
1996 Indian Senapathy Bose/Chandra Bose Tamil Portrayed a dual role
Winner: National Film Award for Best Actor
Winner: Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award
1998 Chachi 420 Jaiprakash Paswan/Lakshmi Godbhole Hindi Portrayed a dual role
Produced by Kamal Haasan
Scripted by Kamal Haasan
Directed by Kamal Haasan
2000 Hey Ram Saket Ram Tamil Winner: Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award
Simultaneously made into Hindi as Hey Ram
Produced by Kamal Haasan
Scripted by Kamal Haasan
Directed by Kamal Haasan
2001 Aalavandhan Vijay Kumar/Nandhu Kumar Tamil Portrayed a dual role
2003 Anbe Sivam Nalla Sivam Tamil Scripted by Kamal Haasan
2004 Virumaandi Virumaandi Tamil Produced by Kamal Haasan
Scripted by Kamal Haasan
Directed by Kamal Haasan
2008 Dasavatharam Tamil Releasing on June 2, 2008
Portrays 10 different roles