# Kamal Haasan (கமல்ஹாசன்)
**Kamal Haasan** (கமல்ஹாசன்; born 1954 in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu) is an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, producer, playback singer, and politician, known by the honorific Ulaganayagan (Universal Hero). He debuted as a child actor in 1960 with *Kalathur Kannamma* and has appeared in more than 200 films over a career spanning six decades, working across Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, and [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema).[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/kamal-haasan/2886)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1954, Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/kamal-haasan/2886) |
| Debut | Child actor in *Kalathur Kannamma* (1960)[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/kamal-haasan/2886) |
| Major awards | 4 National Film Awards and 19 Filmfare Awards (as of 2018)[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/kamal-haasan/2886) |
| Civil honors | Kalaimamani (1979), Padma Shri (1990), Padma Bhushan (2014), Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2016)[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/kamal-haasan/2886) |
| Oscar entries | Seven of his films were sent to the Academy Awards as India's entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/indian-2-kamal-haasan-the-true-pan-indian-star-way-ahead-of-his-time-9446783/) |
| Political party | Founder and president of Makkal Needhi Maiam, launched 21 February 2018[3](https://www.tamilwire.in/news/football/kamalhasan-mnm-party-8years-celebration) |
| Current office | Member of the Rajya Sabha, sworn in 25 July 2025[4](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/tamilnadu/kamal-haasan-swearing-in-rajya-sabha-mp-makkal-needhi-maiam-9534650) |
## Career and breakthrough
Haasan's working relationship with the director [K. Balachander](https://www.edgepedia.org/k-balachander) shaped his early career. Balachander's films helped him build a pan-Indian following through *Apoorva Raagangal* (Tamil, 1975), *Maro Charitra* (Telugu, 1978), and *Ek Duuje Ke Liye* (Hindi, 1981).[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/kamal-haasan/2886) By the end of the 1980s he had won Filmfare Best Actor awards in Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu.[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/kamal-haasan/2886) In an interview with IANS, Haasan said he worked on 36 films with Balachander and described him as his mentor, the man who taught him the discipline of acting.[5](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/kamal-haasan-vishwaroopam-2-5295994/lite/)
His range across genres is a defining feature of the career. *Pushpaka Vimana* (1987) was a silent film, *Apoorva Sagodharargal* (1989) cast him as a dwarf, and *Dasavatharam* (2008) had him play ten roles; [Priyanka Chopra](https://www.edgepedia.org/priyanka-chopra) subsequently played twelve characters in *What's Your Raashee?* (2009).[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/indian-2-kamal-haasan-the-true-pan-indian-star-way-ahead-of-his-time-9446783/) • [15](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/priyanka-plays-12-roles-dances-for-22-hours/story-iOkCqB64eGDfjthVkI254J.html) He is a trained [Bharatanatyam](https://www.edgepedia.org/bharatanatyam) and Kathak dancer and has sung in over 50 films.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/indian-2-kamal-haasan-the-true-pan-indian-star-way-ahead-of-his-time-9446783/)
## National Film Awards
Haasan has won four [National Film Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-film-awards).[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/kamal-haasan/2886) His third came for *Indian* (1996), directed by Shankar, in which he played dual roles; the jury honored his performance as the elderly vigilante Senapathy, who takes on corruption.[6](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2020/nov/07/kamal-haasan-awards-3500262.html) For that role, at age 42, he used prosthetics to appear as a 70-year-old, the first such use in Indian cinema according to the Indian Express.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/indian-2-kamal-haasan-the-true-pan-indian-star-way-ahead-of-his-time-9446783/)
Seven of his films have been India's official entries for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film: *Saagar* (1985), *Swati Mutyam* (1986), *Nayagan* (1987), *Thevar Magan* (1992), *Kuruthipunal* (1995), *Indian* (1996), and *Hey Ram* (2000).[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/indian-2-kamal-haasan-the-true-pan-indian-star-way-ahead-of-his-time-9446783/)
## Technical experimentation
Haasan has repeatedly introduced new production technology to Indian and [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema):[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/indian-2-kamal-haasan-the-true-pan-indian-star-way-ahead-of-his-time-9446783/)
- *Mahanadhi* (1994) was the first Indian film to use Avid editing software.
- *Aalavandhaan* (2001) was the first Indian film to use a motion control rig to capture the movement of pictures.
- *Vishwaroopam* (2013) was the first Indian film to use Auro 3D sound technology.
- Tamil cinema reporting also credits him with bringing [Dolby Atmos](https://www.edgepedia.org/dolby-atmos) sound systems and Auro 3D sound to Tamil films.[7](https://cinema.dinamalar.com/news/special-report/x/115421)
He turned to direction in 1997 with *Chachi 420*, the Hindi remake of his Tamil hit *Avvai Shanmugi*.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/indian-2-kamal-haasan-the-true-pan-indian-star-way-ahead-of-his-time-9446783/) Recent films include *Vikram* (2022), *Indian 2* (2024), and *Thug Life* (2025), the last directed by [Mani Ratnam](https://www.edgepedia.org/mani-ratnam).[8](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/kamal-haasan/2886/filmography)
## Politics: Makkal Needhi Maiam
Haasan entered politics by founding [Makkal Needhi Maiam](https://www.edgepedia.org/makkal-needhi-maiam) (MNM) on 21 February 2018.[3](https://www.tamilwire.in/news/football/kamalhasan-mnm-party-8years-celebration) The party's stated principles include eradicating corruption, good governance, public welfare, environmental protection, and empowerment of women.[9](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/kamal-haasan-bio) He has described his screen persona as feeding into his politics; the Indian Express noted that his films' reform-minded characters, from *Anbe Sivam* to *Unnal Mudiyum Thambi*, prefigured his political positions, and that he has called himself a Gandhian convert.[10](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/kamal-haasan-characters-politics-5072950/)
The party's electoral trajectory has moved from independent challenger to alliance partner. In the 2024 [Lok Sabha](https://www.edgepedia.org/lok-sabha) election MNM campaigned for the DMK alliance's [Coimbatore](https://www.edgepedia.org/coimbatore) candidate rather than fielding its own slate.[11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCVIc2MMK5E) In March 2026 the party announced unconditional support to the DMK-led alliance and stayed out of the [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu) assembly election, a shift ThePrint described as completing a full circle in its political journey.[12](https://tamil.theprint.in/politics/set-to-sit-tn-polls-out-how-kamal-haasans-mnm-went-from-being-challenger-to-dmks-cheerleader/8085/) The DMK-led alliance allotted MNM a seat in the Rajya Sabha election, and Haasan was sworn in as a member of the upper house on 25 July 2025.[4](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/tamilnadu/kamal-haasan-swearing-in-rajya-sabha-mp-makkal-needhi-maiam-9534650) • [13](https://www.dinamani.com/tamilnadu/2025/May/30/kamal-haasan-press-meet-after-met-with-mk-stalin) As an MP he has raised parliamentary questions, including one dated 18 December 2025 on leveraging India's thorium reserves.[14](https://prsindia.org/mptrack/rajya-sabha/kamal-haasan)
## Recognition
Beyond the National and [Filmfare Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards), Haasan's honors include the [Kalaimamani](https://www.edgepedia.org/kalaimamani) from the Tamil Nadu government in 1979, the [Padma Shri](https://www.edgepedia.org/padma-shri) in 1990, the Padma Bhushan in 2014, and the French government's Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2016.[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/kamal-haasan/2886) Tamil-language profiles also list Nandi Awards, the SS Vasan Award, and an honorary doctorate among his recognitions.[7](https://cinema.dinamalar.com/news/special-report/x/115421) The Indian Express counted a record 137 awards across his career as of 2024.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/indian-2-kamal-haasan-the-true-pan-indian-star-way-ahead-of-his-time-9446783/)
## References
1. [Kamal Haasan – Movies, Biography, News, Age & Photos, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/kamal-haasan/2886)
2. [Ahead of Indian 2, here's looking at Kamal Haasan – the true pan-Indian star way ahead of his time, The Indian Express (11 July 2024)](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/indian-2-kamal-haasan-the-true-pan-indian-star-way-ahead-of-his-time-9446783/)
3. [8-வது ஆண்டில் மக்கள் நீதி மய்யம்... சாதித்தது என்ன? சறுக்கியது என்ன?, TamilWire](https://www.tamilwire.in/news/football/kamalhasan-mnm-party-8years-celebration)
4. [மாநிலங்களவை உறுப்பினராக கமல்ஹாசன் பதவியேற்பு, Indian Express Tamil (25 July 2025)](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/tamilnadu/kamal-haasan-swearing-in-rajya-sabha-mp-makkal-needhi-maiam-9534650)
5. [Kamal Haasan: I come from an era when cinema was not driven by studios, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/kamal-haasan-vishwaroopam-2-5295994/lite/)
6. [கமல் ஹாசன் விருதுகள், Dinamani (7 November 2020)](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2020/nov/07/kamal-haasan-awards-3500262.html)
7. [களத்தூரில் களம் கண்டு கலையுலகின் உச்சம் தொட்ட "கலைஞானி" கமல்ஹாசன் 64, Dinamalar Cinema](https://cinema.dinamalar.com/news/special-report/x/115421)
8. [Kamal Haasan – Filmography, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/kamal-haasan/2886/filmography)
9. [கமல்ஹாசன் – வாழ்க்கை வரலாறு, Samayam Tamil](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/kamal-haasan-bio)
10. [Kamal Haasan, the leader: The politics of Nammavar's characters, The Indian Express (21 February 2018)](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/kamal-haasan-characters-politics-5072950/)
11. [மக்கள் நீதி மய்யம் தலைவர் கமல்ஹாசன் கோயம்புத்தூர் தேர்தல் பிரச்சாரம், Makkal Needhi Maiam (YouTube, 16 April 2024)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCVIc2MMK5E)
12. [கமல்ஹாசனின் மநீம திமுகவின் போட்டியாளராக இருந்த நிலையிலிருந்து, அதன் ஆதரவாளராக மாறியது எப்படி?, ThePrint Tamil](https://tamil.theprint.in/politics/set-to-sit-tn-polls-out-how-kamal-haasans-mnm-went-from-being-challenger-to-dmks-cheerleader/8085/)
13. [நாட்டுக்கு தேவை என்பதால் கூட்டணி; தவறுசெய்தால்தான் மன்னிப்பு கேட்பேன்: கமல்ஹாசன், Dinamani (30 May 2025)](https://www.dinamani.com/tamilnadu/2025/May/30/kamal-haasan-press-meet-after-met-with-mk-stalin)
14. [Kamal Haasan – Parliamentary record, PRS Legislative Research](https://prsindia.org/mptrack/rajya-sabha/kamal-haasan)
15. [Priyanka plays 12 roles, dances for 22 hours](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/priyanka-plays-12-roles-dances-for-22-hours/story-iOkCqB64eGDfjthVkI254J.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 › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Tamil film actors › Surnames symbols to J*
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