As Kamal completes 65 years, we give you 25 instances when the singer in him reigned supreme. Read on, for a nostalgic trip down the memory lane.

Slideshows

60 Years of Kamalism: 25 times the Ulaganayagan sang his way into our hearts

Team CE

Updated:18th Dec, 2019 at 3:23 PM

Saagaavaram (Uttama Villain)- Kamal delivers this Andhadhi-style lyrical, where the last word becomes the first word of the next verse, in his own inimitable style - a blend of sarcasm and atonality.

Unnai Kaanadhu Naan (Vishwaroopam) -Kamal's effortless singing, combined with Shankar Mahadevan's charm, is fabulous in this classical beauty that blends into a captivating, Kathak’ish showpiece.

Neela Vaanam (Manmadhan Anbu) - The melody, drenched in pathos, makes great use of Kamal’s signature brooding vocals, to hit us right at the feels.

Oh...Ho...Sanam (Dasavaratham) - Kamal's organic 'Avatar Singh' accent, the swaying beats and heady Arabic notes give this song a delightful middle-eastern feel.

Neruppu Vaayinil (Pudhupettai) - Kamal Hassan’s throaty voice lends an eerie aura to this brilliantly-disconcerting composition by Yuvan Shankar Raja.

Alwarpetta Aandavaa (Vasool Raja MBBS) - Kamal's 'Madras Baashai' and signature satire lift this light-hearted, foot-tapping track to a different level all-together.

Unna Vida (Virumaandi) - Kamal is at sensual best in this masterpiece, where he measures up to a singer of Shreya Ghoshal's calibre. After a while, it all feels like a conversation between hearts.

Stranded on the Streets (English - Nalayathambi) - What a sweet surprise! Kamal aces this delightful song, with some mindblowing lyrics in the English country-folk genre, with his trademark accent.

Yaar Yaar Sivam (Anbey Sivam) - This goosebumps retelling of the story of a man who found God in people who did good things, in Kamal's fervent voice, has to be heard to be believed.

Kandhasamy Madasamy (Pammal K Sammantham) - Another fun track, made lively and timeless by Kamal's irreverent rendering of the hilarious lyrics.

Kadhal Piriyamal (Panchathandiram) - Another brilliant variant of the love pathos number in Kamal's voice that's splattered with pain and agony.

Kadavul Paadhi (Aalavandhan) - Kamal brings alive the paranoid schizophrenic apologetically, complete with the unpredictable hisses, the eerie sniffs and the seeming escapes into an alternate world.

Alangatti Mazhai (Thenali) - Kamal aces the Ceylon accent, replete with minute details like pauses and shrills, in this lovely melody by AR Rahman.

Ram Ram (Hey Ram) - Listen to Kamal go “Manithanai Manithanaai Paarum... Mathangalum Kan Kaanaa Odum” with Shruti following it up again with her unique twist, and feel the shiver creep up your spine.

Kaasu Mela (Kadhalaa Kadhalaa) - Every 90s kid's go to song for dappaankuthu. Kamal's camaraderie with Udit Narayanan is pop-culture stuff.

Mutthey Mutthamma (Ullaasam) - Kamal's gruff rendering of this fast-paced number by Karthik Raaja gives the extra-oomph to the Ajith-Maheshwari romance.

Rukku Rukku Rukku (Avvai Shanmugi) - Kamal mimics a 50-year-old woman to 'goosebumps-level' perfection in this fun track. The way he comes back after mildly drifting away to his real voice! <3

Marugo Marugo (Sathi Leelavathi) - Kamal, along with Chithra, hilariously spoofs five to six of his chart-busters in this farcical track, which is perhaps one of the most memorable things of the 90s.

Kokkarakko Kozhi (Kalaignan) - Kamal attempts a variant of his husky voice to mostly positive results, in this mystical melody by Raja.

Inji Idupazhagi (Thevar Magan) - Kamal's mastery of the rural folk genre comes to the fore in this beauty, which has Janaki Amma at her euphonious best.

Pottu Vaitha Kaadhal Thittam (Singaravelan) - Just the way Kamal reaches the high pitches with 'Kaveri Alla Anai Pottu Kolla Indha Kaadhal' is enough to spell out this track's brilliance.

Kanmani Anbodu (Gunaa) - Can a melody get more heart-wrenching? Kamal's 'dialogue-style' improvisations to Janaki's spirited rendering of the song makes this a thing of beauty.

Sundhari Neeyum Sundharan Njanum (MMKR) - KJ Yesudas was supposed to sing Sundari Neeyum, but due to his busy schedule Raja insisted on Kamal singing the song. And what magic has that resulted in! <3

Raja Kaiya Vachchaa Apoorva Sagodharargal: The song, which first hinted at Kamal's expertise at the Madras-special dappankuthu. Magical meta-stuff!

Thenpandi Cheemaiyile (Nayakan) - The deep-seated grief written all over Kamal’s harrowing voice creates an absolutely agonizing atmosphere, making it real tough not to tear up at all the hopelessness

Special mention 1: Vikram..Vikram..(Vikram) - A song that proved beyond doubt the range of Kamal's singing prowess. The robotic interludes and Janaki Amma's humming, are both way ahead of their times.

Special mention 2: Ninaivo Oru Paravai (Sigappu Rojakkal) - Raja, who witnessed Kamal singing an English song in a concert, gave him this rapturous beauty, after being impressed with his range.

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