One could pick a long list of films that testify to Kamal Haasan's versatility, but is it possible to compile a small list, say, to introduce him to someone who has not seen his films? This writer believes the following list best demonstrates the thespian's chameleonic abilities, from silent to performance-heavy to mass entertainers. (Compiled by Sajin Shrijith)
Kamal's breakthrough role for a reason, so early in this career, for multiple reasons. The audacity to take on a complex character — someone who went against the grain — in a film directed by his guru, K Balachander, and his willingness to learn to play the mridangam made it emblematic of the consummate actor's superlative work ethic.
One wonders how many viewers were made uncomfortable by this storytelling aberration. Watching Kamal play a childhood trauma-triggered psychopath may not be pleasant, but it showed the man could give tough competition for some popular "international" psychos.
In an age where talkies rein, perhaps the ultimate litmus test for an actor typically associated with dialogue-driven storytelling fare is a silent film. In Singeetam Srinivasa Rao's classic comedy of errors comparable to the work of Jacques Tati, Kamal aced this test with flying colours.
A classic example of an actor disappearing completely into a role — transforming himself in terms of his looks, costumes, dialogue delivery, body language... everything! One of his haunting, emotionally overpowering performances that leaves an indelible impression.
The directorial debut of Suresh Krissna, the man who gave Rajnikanth some of his most celebrated blockbusters, Sathyaa is a reminder of a time when heroes didn't need a rousing background score or slow motion for elevation. In this case, Kamal's macho, edgy personality alone generated the requisite sparks.
Another Singeetam Srinivasa Rao comedy classic. The preferred antidote for many when going through the blues: a perfect showcase of Kamal's ability to essay multiple characters in the same film, in this case, four, each with distinct personalities and maintaining character consistency throughout the film's runtime.
Here's another example of Kamal playing multiple roles, one of which is a dwarf to whom we feel more emotionally attached. It's the sort of performance that required Kamal to make extensive use of his physicality, and anyone who saw the film as a kid would've marvelled at how challenging it must've been to play Appu.
A "pan-Indian" Malayalam film co-starring Urmila Matondkar and Jayaram (Kamal's future co-star in Thenali and Panchathanthiram), this exceptional revenge thriller marked the directorial debut of TK Rajeev Kumar (formerly an assistant director on India's first 3D film My Dear Kuttichathan).