Kamal Haasan's 69th Birthday: Celebrating The Iconic Actor's 10 All-Time Best Movies, From Nayakan To Vikram

Kamal Haasan's Best Films: Actor-filmmaker-politician Kamal Haasan, the 'Ulaganayagan,' is marking his 69th birthday on November 7, receiving heartfelt birthday wishes from around the globe, a testament to his iconic stature in the world of cinema.

Let's seize this opportunity to explore a selection of the remarkable works from Kamal Haasan's illustrious filmography. The legendary Indian actor, director, and screenwriter has captivated audiences with his exceptional talent and versatility for over five decades, leaving an indelible mark on Indian cinema. From intense dramas to side-splitting comedies, Haasan has demonstrated his brilliance across a wide range of genres.

Apoorva Raagangal

"Apoorva Raagangal" is a 1975 Tamil romantic drama film, both written and directed by K. Balachander. This cinematic work features Kamal Haasan, Sundarrajan, Srividya, and Jayasudha in prominent roles, while Nagesh and Rajinikanth, in his inaugural feature film appearance, play supporting characters. The film's narrative centres on Prasanna (Kamal Haasan), who experiences a romantic entanglement with Bhairavi (Srividya), a woman considerably older than him. In parallel, Bhairavi's daughter Ranjani (Jayasudha) develops feelings for Prasanna's father, Mahendran (Sundarrajan).

Moondram Pirai

"Moondram Pirai" is a 1982 Tamil romantic drama film that showcases the creative talents of Balu Mahendra as its writer, director, and cinematographer. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in the lead roles, with Y. G. Mahendran, Silk Smitha, and Poornam Viswanathan in supporting characters. The story revolves around a compassionate schoolteacher who rescues a woman suffering from retrograde amnesia from a brothel and provides her shelter in his home in Ketti. The film subsequently follows her journey to regain her lost memories with the teacher's unwavering support. The film earned two National Film Awards, with Kamal Haasan receiving the Best Actor accolade and Balu Mahendra being recognized for Best Cinematography. Balu Mahendra later remade the movie in Hindi as "Sadma" (1983), reuniting Kamal Haasan, Sridevi, and Smitha in their respective roles.

Nayakan

"Nayakan," a 1987 Tamil crime epic, was written and directed by Mani Ratnam and produced by Muktha Srinivasan. The film features Kamal Haasan, Saranya, Karthika, Janagaraj, Vijayan, M. V. Vasudeva Rao, Delhi Ganesh, Nizhalgal Ravi, Nassar, and Tara in pivotal roles. The story follows the transformation of Sakthivel "Velu" Naicker, portrayed by Kamal Haasan, from a slum dweller to a notorious underworld Don. "Nayakan" draws inspiration from the life of Bombay's underworld don Varadarajan Mudaliar and the film "The Godfather" (1972). Kamal Haasan's outstanding performance in the film earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor, and it also received National Awards for Best Cinematography (P C Sreeram) and Best Art Direction (Thota Tharani)."

Apoorva Sagodharargal

"Apoorva Sagodharargal," a 1989 Tamil movie directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, boasts an ensemble cast led by Kamal Haasan, Jaishankar, Nagesh, Gautami, Rupini, Manorama, Srividya, Janagaraj, Moulee, Delhi Ganesh, and Nassar. The story revolves around twin brothers, Raju and Appu, who were separated in their childhood. Appu embarks on a mission of vengeance against the criminals responsible for his father's murder."

Mahanadi

"Mahanadhi" is a 1994 Tamil crime drama directed by Santhana Bharathi and co-written by Kamal Haasan. The film features Kamal Haasan and Sukanya in lead roles, with supporting performances from S. N. Lakshmi, Tulasi, Shobana, Dinesh, Poornam Viswanathan, Rajesh, and Cochin Haneefa. The story revolves around a widower and his family enduring various hardships caused by a cunning con artist. The concept for "Mahanadhi" emerged when Haasan uncovered his domestic help's plot to abduct his daughters for ransom. He developed the storyline, with novelist Ra. Ki. Rangarajan contributing and receiving credit as the dialogue writer. The film's cinematography was entrusted to newcomer M. S. Prabhu, and editing was overseen by N. P. Sathish. Notably, it was the first Indian film to utilise Avid technology. "Mahanadhi" delves into critical topics such as corruption and child trafficking and achieved recognition with two National Film Awards, specifically for Best Feature Film in Tamil and Best Audiography.

Indian

"Indian," a 1996 Tamil vigilante action film from India, was both written and directed by Shankar, with production by A. M. Rathnam. The movie features Kamal Haasan in a dual role, supported by a cast including Manisha Koirala, Nedumudi Venu, Sukanya, and Urmila Matondkar. The film's music was composed by A. R. Rahman, while cinematography and editing duties were expertly managed by Jeeva and the team of B. Lenin and V. T. Vijayan.

Hey Ram

"Hey Ram," a 2000 Indian period crime drama film, was written, directed, and produced by Kamal Haasan. The movie was simultaneously crafted in both Tamil and Hindi languages. Ilaiyaraaja was the creative force behind the film's soundtrack and score. This unique work of cinema delves into an alternate history, portraying India's Partition and the tragic assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse.

Virumandi

"Virumaandi" is a 2004 Indian Tamil-language action drama film, featuring a multifaceted role for Kamal Haasan, who served as the writer, co-editor, producer, and director in addition to playing the titular character. The film delves into the interviews of two prison inmates, Kothala Thevar (Pasupathy) with a life sentence and Virumaandi (Haasan), who is on death row. The criminals candidly reflect on their life's choices and how they reached their current predicaments. The narrative is skillfully crafted around the Rashomon effect, providing multiple perspectives. The cast includes Abhirami, Napoleon, Rohini, Shanmugarajan, and Nassar in key roles, while the film's musical score was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. "Virumaandi" received critical acclaim and performed well at the box office, signifying Rohini's return to acting after an eight-year hiatus.

Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu

"Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu" is a 2006 Tamil neo-noir action thriller, skillfully penned and directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon. The film boasts a talented cast, featuring Kamal Haasan, Jyothika, and Kamalinee Mukherjee in significant roles, with the added support of Prakash Raj, Daniel Balaji, and Salim Baig. The storyline follows a dedicated police officer's relentless pursuit to apprehend two elusive serial killers.

Vikram

"Vikram" is a Tamil-language action thriller skillfully crafted and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj in 2022. The film features a stellar cast led by Kamal Haasan in the title role, supported by Vijay Sethupathi and Fahadh Faasil, with Narain and Kalidas Jayaram playing pivotal roles. Suriya also makes a notable cameo appearance in this film. "Vikram" is a spiritual successor to the 1986 film of the same name and serves as the second installment in the Lokesh Cinematic Universe. While "Vikram" may not be considered among Kamal Haasan's best films, it remains an important milestone in his career as it paved the way for his comeback.

From Kamal Haasan's illustrious career, it's challenging to narrow down his best films to a mere list. However, here are some honorable mentions: "Pushpaka Vimana" (1987), "Michael Madana Kama Rajan" (1990), "Anbe Sivam" (2003), and "Vishwaroopam" (2013).