The Legacy of Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan: An Icon Who Continues to Break New Ground

Born on November 7th 1954, Parthasarathy Srinivasan who is better known by his stage name Kamal Haasan. He is an Indian actor, playback singer, lyricist, screenwriter, director, producer, choreographer, television host, social activist and a politician.

In Tamil Nadu’s Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram District Kamal Haasan was born. His first film appearance as a kid artist was “Kalathoor Kannamma” (1960). He has since appeared in nearly 220 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi the five main Indian languages.

As of 2024, he has 64 years of experience in the film industry. From young artist to romantic lead to one of the most admired and respected heroes of the modern film business, he has played a variety of  roles throughout his career including female getups.

Numerous awards have been bestowed upon him including two Filmfare Awards, eighteen Filmfare Awards South, nine Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, four Nandi Awards, one Rashtrapati Award and four National Film Awards. He received the Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier) in 2016, the Padma Bhushan in 2014, the Padma Shri in 1990 and the Kalaimamani Award in 1984.

Who gave Kamal Haasan “Ulaganayagan” title? What does it mean?

He has been known by a number of names throughout the years including “Kalai Gyani” which means “a genius in the arts” and “Sagalakala vallavan” which honors him for his incredible versatility as he is an all rounder in the film industry. One term, Ulaganayagan, however got stuck. The phrase Ulaganayagan means “universal hero” to those who are unfamiliar with it.

Thenali (2000) was the movie that made Kamal Haasan ‘Ulaganayagan’. The actor played the lead in the comedy film which was a smash at the box office and was directed by K. S. Ravikumar. It was Kamal Haasan’s first debut as Ulaganayagan during the credits of Thenali movie.

Kamal Haasan recently declared on Monday that he would no longer accept titles like “Ulaga Nayagan” (universal hero) stating that the movie industry is wider than any one person and that he is still a student. He also stated that he preferred to be addressed by his name or just KH.

Kamal’s versatility as “Sagalakala vallavan”

He could perform in full-length comedies just as easily as he could in serious parts. This is seen in Vasool Raja MBBS, Pammal Sampandam and Panchathanthiram.

He played an elderly, traditional Brahmin woman in the Avvai Shanmukhi version of Mrs. Doubtfire. It features several humorous moments and is known as Chachi 420 in Hindi.

 Kamal has a remarkable eye for detail when writing his own stories and scripts.

Thevar Magan, Mahanadhi, Hey Ram, Aalavandhan, Anbe Sivam, Nala Damayanthi, Virumaandi, Dasavathaaram, Manmadan Ambu, Vishwaroopam, Michael Madana Kama Rajan, Raja Paarvai, Apoorva Sagodharargal, Michael Madana Kama Rajan, and Thevar Magan combined serious themes and comedy-of-errors in his selections.

Additionally, he became a playback vocalist and lyricist for movies like Vishwaroompam and Virumandi. Gnayiru Oli Mazhaiyil was Kamal’s first playback vocalist in the 1975 movie Andharangam.

A number of his films have been produced by Raaj Kamal Films International which is owned by KH. Amaran, starring Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi is being financed by his production company and is a blockbuster film which is still in theaters. The movie is a biographical account of Major Mukund Varadarajan and the audience are dwelled inside the movie which makes them touch emotionally. 

And KH’s recent song “Yaro Ivan Yaro” from the movie Meiyazhagan stoked all audiences at heart just like his old movie “Anbe Sivam” which is still all youngster’s favourite.

KH in Politics and Social Welfare:

Under the name Kamal Narpani Iyakkam (Kamal charitable Association), Haasan is the first Tamil actor to turn his fan groups into charitable organizations. Through these clubs, he engages in social service projects. His fan clubs provide educational materials to students and assist with organizing blood and eye donations.

Kamal Hassan is also a philanthropist. In 2004, Haasan was given the first Abraham Kovoor National Award for his work in the community. He served as the project ambassador for the 2010 Hridayaragam event which gathered funds for a children’s orphanage for those affected by HIV/AIDS. Haasan presented roses to children with cancer at Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai and established a children’s cancer relief fund in September 2010. Also Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi nominated Haasan for the Swachh Bharat Mission. 

He has promised to donate his earnings from product endorsements to charitable causes. In March 2013, Haasan and his partner Gautami won ₹5 million on Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi program. They gave the winnings to Petral Thaan Pillaya, a charity that helps cancer patients.

According to Haasan, if he ever appeared in advertisements, the money raised would be given to children living with HIV.

The Dravidian beliefs of Aringnar Anna, MGR, also known as MG Ramachandran, M Karunanidhi, J Jayalalitha, and several others have been taught in Tamil Nadu and its citizens since they were young. After the passing of ADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) leader J Jayalalithaa and DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) leader M Karunanidhi, a void was created. Kamal Haasan took advantage of this chance to enter politics.

On 21 February 2018, Kamal Haasan formally launched his political party, Makkal Needhi Maiam which translates to People’s Justice Centre. He began his political journey from late President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s residence in Rameswaram. 

His political party is not a success like him in the film industry. He lost from Coimbatore South in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election with a smaller margin.

For the people who know Kamal Hassan by seeing his flop movies like Indian 2 should see all his early movies and his direction which are extraordinary. Kamal Hassan is not just a man but a man with Ideology. He is being inspired by all of the people in the south. He made a legacy and is still a legend.

Read More: 10 Iconic Bollywood Movies That Still Rule the Indian Film Industry