Cinema

Viral Story: A look back of how Ulaganayagan Kamal Hassan made his debut on Cinema!

By TNSCorrespondent, 19 January, 2023
Kamalhaasan, Tamil cinema, Kalathur Kannamma, AVM Productions

(The article is authored by Alar)

The versatile actor, director, producer, singer, Kamal Haasan has become synonymous with excellence in Indian cinema since 1960 and has only gained recognition over time. The actor known as Ulaga Nayagan for a reason as he redefined the film genre by bringing a number of new techniques, and he consistently delivers groundbreaking performances and scripts without regard expecting to box office returns. It's versed that the veteran actor made his first film appearance in Kalathur Kannamma, and here, the creative director of AVM Productions explains how this came to be.

Aruna Guhan, partner and creative director, AVM Productions taking us to Twitter and narrated in a series of tweets how Kamal Haasan was introduced to the world of cinema. She penned, "One afternoon, while my great grandfather, Shri. AV. Meiyappan had settled down for his afternoon nap there came a visitor to their home who had brought along a young little boy. The boy seemed angry but kept to himself,"

"When my great-grandmother asked her friend why he was so, the lady replied that the boy had wanted to meet AVM Chettiar and he was disappointed that no one had introduced him yet. Upon some cajoling, they found out that the boy was keen on acting and he then willingly sang a few songs for the members present. Thatha took the little boy upstairs to introduce him to Periya Thatha."

She added, "Periya Thatha always had a bedside lamp next to him that during the day was turned towards the ceiling to bounce and give the room a soft glow. He took a good look at the boy and turned his bedside lamp to shine on the boy's face. He asked him, ‘Can you act?'The young boy unhesitantly said yes and began acting. Periya Thatha asked Thatha to cast him in Kalathur Kannamma saying "This boy is fresh and bright. He will become a famous actor in the future". That was the first focus light to fall on Kamal Haasan sir."

The film was directed by A. Bhimsingh and featured Gemini Ganesh and Savitri Ganesh in leading roles. The story follows a young couple whose son is forced to spend his young years in an orphanage after they are separated by tragic situations. A young Kamal Hassan's depiction of Kalathur Kannamma earned him the presidential gold medal when he was just 6 years old. His breakthrough role came in the 1975 drama Apoorva Raagangal, directed by K. Balachander. His first National Award was for the film Moondram Pirai (1982).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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