Kamal Haasan was born on November 7, 1954, in Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu. He started his career as a child artiste in the film "Kalathoor Kannamma" in 1960. Since then, he has acted in nearly 220 films across major Indian languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi. As of 2020, he has been a part of the film industry for 60 years.
Kamal Haasan has been a versatile artiste, taking on various roles throughout his career. He has said that he is a reluctant actor, but has an avid interest in every aspect of filmmaking. He has worked as a choreographer, director, and writer, in addition to acting.
He wrote his first script at the age of 18 for the film "Unarchigal" in 1976. This was followed by the cult classics "Rajapaarvai" (1981),"Sathya" (1988),"Apoorva Sahotharargal" (1989),"Thevar Magan" (1992),"Mahanadi" (1994),"Kurudhippunal" (1995),"Avvai Shanmugi" (1996),"Hey Ram" (2000),"Pammal K Sambandam" (2002),"Panchathanthiram" (2002),and "Anbe Sivam" (2003).
Kamal Haasan is also a prolific writer of fiction and non-fiction in Tamil. His published work showcases his exploration of structure and form.
His strong convictions have led to some of Indian cinema's most path-breaking films, such as "Pushpak" (1987). He has also worked as a choreographer and dancer, with some of his notable work seen in "Saagara Sangamam" (1983) and "Punnagai Mannan" (1986).
Kamal Haasan is a student of Carnatic music, studying under musical maestro Dr. Balamuralikrishna. He has also sung several songs, including the popular hit "Inji Iduppazhagi" for the film "Thevar Magan".
As a director, Kamal Haasan began his career with the film "Chachi 420" (1997),a Hindi remake of "Avvai Shanmugi". He has since directed critically acclaimed films like "Hey Ram" and "Virumaandi".
Kamal Haasan is known for his rationalist views and moderate opinions. He is a humanist in philosophy and has encouraged debate about socially relevant topics. His fan clubs have also revamped themselves into entities that carry out charity and volunteer work, reflecting his commitment to social consciousness.
