Happy Birthday Kamal Haasan: Seven times a Ulaganayagan film was our best chance at the Oscars
Over a period of 15 years (1985-2000), there was one name that came up with alarming consistency whenever it was time to decide India's submission to the Academy Awards. KAMAL HAASAN. 15 years... 7 nominations... 3 languages
Ten Tamil films have been submitted to the Oscars. Kamal Haasan starred in five of them. Only one Telugu film has been submitted. Kamal Haasan starred in it. Well, 'Andha Oscars dhooram illa'
The first of his seven submissions was directed by the man who made Sholay. Ramesh Sippy made Saagar because he wanted to make a film with the Bobby pair and the 'fabulous actor from the South.'
Swati Mutyam played right up Oscar's alley. The story of an underdog, falling in love and winning against all odds. It was the second straight Kamal Haasan film that was submitted to the Oscars.
Kamal Haasan made it a hattrick with Nayagan. Three years, three films, three languages. If this doesn't speak about the versatility of the actor, then what else will? Oh yeah, he was just 33.
Thevar Magan marks the first time a Kamal Haasan-written script was submitted as India's Official Entry to the Oscars. Also marked the last time Kamal shared screenspace with Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan
Kuruthipunal is one of the very few remakes to be submitted to the Oscars. Govind Nihalani, director of the original Drohkaal, felt the Kamal Haasan-written film was better
Second time a Kamal film received successive nominations. It is a reflection of the high quality standards maintained by Kamal Haasan. The sequel to Indian, the 1996 film, goes on floors today.
HEY RAM, Kamal Haasan's directorial debut, joined the list of his movies that were 'ahead of its times'. But again, would such a film release in the present political climate?
