# Kamal Haasan filmography
**Kamal Haasan** (கமல்ஹாசன்; born 1954) is an Indian actor, director, screenwriter, producer, playback singer and lyricist whose filmography spans more than six decades, from his debut as a child artist in *Kalathoor Kannamma* (1960) to recent releases such as *Vikram* (2022) and *Thug Life* (2025).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/bio/) • [3](https://thefederal.com/films/kamal-haasan-tamil-films-versatile-actor-best-films--190757) He has worked primarily in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema) but has also acted in Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and Bengali films.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/bio/) • [5](https://tamilurl.com/filmographies/kamal-haasan-movies/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Debut | Child artist in *Kalathoor Kannamma* (1960), directed by A. Bhimsingh[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/bio/) • [4](https://kamalhaasan.co.in/kamalhassan_actor.php) |
| Output | Nearly 220 films in the major Indian languages, per IMDb; other tallies run higher[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/bio/) • [5](https://tamilurl.com/filmographies/kamal-haasan-movies/) |
| Filmfare Awards | 19 awards, including consecutive wins from 1974 to 1978[2](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/kamal-haasan) |
| National Film Awards | Best Actor for *Moondram Pirai* (1982), *Nayakan* (1987), and *Indian* (1996)[11](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/2364/kamal-haasan) |
| Multi-role films | Double roles 18 times in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi; four roles in *Michael Madana Kama Rajan* and ten in *Dasavathaaram*[3](https://thefederal.com/films/kamal-haasan-tamil-films-versatile-actor-best-films--190757) |
| Directing | Began with *Chachi 420* (1997); later directed *Hey Ram* and *Virumaandi*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/bio/) |
| Civilian honor | Padma Bhushan[13](https://ficci.in/public/storage/PressRelease/1503/ficci-press-jan27-kamal-hassan-padma-bhushan.pdf) |
## Child artist years and breakthrough
Haasan began acting at about four years of age, appearing as a child artist in *Kalathoor Kannamma* (1960) and in further films through the early 1960s, including *Paarthal Pasi Theerum* (1962), *Paadha Kaanikkai* (1962), the Malayalam *Kannum Karalum* (1962), *Vanambadi* (1963), and *Anandha Jodhi* (1963).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/bio/) • [4](https://kamalhaasan.co.in/kamalhassan_actor.php) When his career as a child artiste declined between the ages of eight and sixteen, he used the period to train as a dancer, choreographer, editor and script writer, and learned [Carnatic music](https://www.edgepedia.org/carnatic-music).[6](https://nfaindia.org/images/pdf/35th%20National%20Film%20Award%20Catalogue.pdf)
His adult career began with supporting roles in [K. Balachander](https://www.edgepedia.org/k-balachander)'s *Arangetram* (1973) and *Sollathaan Ninaikkiren* (1973).[2](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/kamal-haasan) Balachander, who refined Haasan's raw talent, went on to work with him in over 40 films, among them *Gumasthavin Magal* (1974), *Aval Oru Thodar Kathai* (1974), *Apoorva Raagangal* (1975), *Varumaiyin Niram Sivappu* (1980), and the Hindi hit *Ek Duuje Ke Liye* (1981).[2](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/kamal-haasan) *Apoorva Raagangal*, the film that made Haasan a star, was also Rajinikanth's debut movie.[3](https://thefederal.com/films/kamal-haasan-tamil-films-versatile-actor-best-films--190757) • [12](https://femina.wwmindia.com/magazines/2020/november/CTB_SOUTH_MOBILE.pdf)
## Awards record
**Filmfare.** Haasan won Filmfare South awards six years in a row, a run the Indian Film History account calls a "double hat-trick": *Kanyakumari* (Malayalam, 1974); *Apoorva Raagangal* (1975); *Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu* (1976); *16 Vayadhinile* (1977); *Sigappu Rojakal* (1978); and *Yaetta* (Malayalam, 1978).[2](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/kamal-haasan) His later Filmfare wins include *Raja Paarvai* and *Aakali Rajyam* (both 1981), *Sagara Sangamam* (1983), *Pushpaka Vimana* (1987), *Apoorva Sagodharargal* and *Indrudu Chandrudu* (both 1989), *Guna* (1991), *Thevar Magan* (1992), *[Kuruthipunal](https://www.edgepedia.org/kuruthipunal-film)* (1995), *Indian* (1996), and *Hey Ram* (2000), for a total of 19 awards.[2](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/kamal-haasan) IMDb's biography adds a further distinction: he is the only actor to have earned a Best Actor award and a Best Actor in a Supporting Role nomination for the same film, *[Saagar](https://www.edgepedia.org/saagar)* (1985), at the [Filmfare Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/bio/)
**National Film Awards.** The Directorate of Film Festivals catalog records that the Best Actor award for 1982 went to [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan) for the Tamil film *Moondram Pirai*, "for the versatility and naturalness with which he portrays the character of Seenu."[7](https://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/87_30thNfacatalogue.pdf) He won the Best Actor National Film Award again for *Nayakan* (1987) and *Indian* (1996).[11](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/2364/kamal-haasan) He has also received Nandi Awards for Best Actor for *Sagara Sangamam* (1983), *Swathi Muthyam* (1986), and *Indrudu Chandrudu* (1989).[8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/awards/)
## Range and multi-role films
Haasan's filmography runs from commercial epics to indie-style dramas, and he has played characters from grieving lover to vengeful vigilante, slapstick nanny to silent clown.[3](https://thefederal.com/films/kamal-haasan-tamil-films-versatile-actor-best-films--190757) The silent film *Pushpak / Pushpaka Vimaanam / Pesum Padam* (1987) is cited as one of Indian cinema's path-breaking films.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/bio/) His dancing is showcased in *Saagara Sangamam* (1983) and *Punnagai Mannan* (1986).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/bio/)
Multiple roles are a recurring feature. He has played double roles 18 times across Tamil, Telugu and Hindi, four roles in *Michael Madana Kama Rajan* (1990), and ten roles in *Dasavathaaram* (2008).[3](https://thefederal.com/films/kamal-haasan-tamil-films-versatile-actor-best-films--190757) Even the comedy *[Thenali](https://www.edgepedia.org/thenali)* (2000) was noted for displaying his versatility.[3](https://thefederal.com/films/kamal-haasan-tamil-films-versatile-actor-best-films--190757)
## Writing and directing
Haasan wrote his first script at age 18 for *Unarchigal* (1976).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/bio/) Films associated with his writing that became cult classics include *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).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/bio/) A Tamil-language film history notes that *Raaja Paarvai* (1981), produced by Kamal and Charu Haasan, was the first film to which he contributed directly to the screenplay, and that *Thevar Magan* (1992) was the first film written entirely as his own creation.[9](https://tamil.wiki/wiki/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B9%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D)
His directing career began with *[Chachi 420](https://www.edgepedia.org/chachi-420)* (1997), the Hindi remake of *Avvai Shanmugi*; he went on to direct the critically acclaimed *Hey Ram* and *[Virumaandi](https://www.edgepedia.org/virumaandi)*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/bio/) He also directed the *Vishwaroopam* films, credited as actor, writer, producer and director on *Vishwaroopam* (2013) and *Vishwaroopam 2* (2018).[10](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/kamal-haasan/2886/filmography)
## Collaborators
The composer Ilayaraja is Haasan's most frequent music director, with more than 20 films together, far ahead of any other collaborator.[14](https://www.gudvibe.app/person/551-kamal-haasan/co-actors) Haasan is a student of Carnatic music who studied under Dr. Balamuralikrishna, and one of his best-known playback songs is "Inji Iduppazhagi" from *Thevar Magan*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/bio/) He has sung for 14 music composers, according to his IMDb biography.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/bio/)
## Recent and upcoming films
Haasan's recent credits include *Vikram* (2022), which he also produced, *Kalki 2898 AD* and *Indian 2* (both 2024), and *Thug Life* (2025), his reunion with [Mani Ratnam](https://www.edgepedia.org/mani-ratnam) 38 years after *Nayakan*.[3](https://thefederal.com/films/kamal-haasan-tamil-films-versatile-actor-best-films--190757) • [10](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/kamal-haasan/2886/filmography) Filmibeat's Tamil filmography lists *KH 233* as producer (March 2026) and *Thevar Magan 2*, directed by [Mahesh Narayanan](https://www.edgepedia.org/mahesh-narayanan), as an upcoming acting role (October 2026).[15](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/kamal-haasan/filmography.html)
## References
1. [Kamal Haasan – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/bio/)
2. [Kamal Haasan – Filmography & Biography, Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/kamal-haasan)
3. [10 defining films across genres that showcase Kamal Haasan's range as an actor, The Federal](https://thefederal.com/films/kamal-haasan-tamil-films-versatile-actor-best-films--190757)
4. [Kamal Haasan filmography as actor, kamalhaasan.co.in](https://kamalhaasan.co.in/kamalhassan_actor.php)
5. [Kamal Haasan Movies: Complete Filmography (1960–2026), Tamil URL](https://tamilurl.com/filmographies/kamal-haasan-movies/)
6. [35th National Film Award Catalogue, National Film Archive of India](https://nfaindia.org/images/pdf/35th%20National%20Film%20Award%20Catalogue.pdf)
7. [Award for the Best Actor, 30th National Film Awards catalogue, Directorate of Film Festivals](https://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/87_30thNfacatalogue.pdf)
8. [Kamal Haasan – Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352032/awards/)
9. [கமல்ஹாசன், Tamil Wiki](https://tamil.wiki/wiki/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B9%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D)
10. [Kamal Haasan filmography, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/kamal-haasan/2886/filmography)
11. [Kamal Haasan, TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/2364/kamal-haasan)
12. [Powerhouse of Talent, Femina](https://femina.wwmindia.com/magazines/2020/november/CTB_SOUTH_MOBILE.pdf)
13. [Kamal Haasan is being awarded the Padma Bhushan, FICCI press release](https://ficci.in/public/storage/PressRelease/1503/ficci-press-jan27-kamal-hassan-padma-bhushan.pdf)
14. [Kamal Haasan Co-Stars, Directors & Movies Together, GudVibe](https://www.gudvibe.app/person/551-kamal-haasan/co-actors)
15. [கமல் ஹாசன் நடித்த படங்கள், Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/kamal-haasan/filmography.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Actor filmographies and performer list articles*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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