In conversation with Uttam Human Being, Kamal Haasan

An actor who never fails to surprise the audiences, to bring forth the realities of life in the form of stories and someone who challenges the intellect of the viewer, Dr. Kamal Haasan is an actor and a director, who has successfully blended best of both the worlds – art and cinema. Whether it is taking up different social topics or donning ten characters in the same movie, he has never taken a step back when given a challenge. Probably, he is the one of those who makes challenges for his own self because he believes in delivering better than the last, every time.

Through his movies he has presented many art forms, which were forgotten or never known to Indian audiences, talking about the same he said, “It is just like flaunting the beauty of your native place which is unknown to the people around you. India has a very rich culture and even after 40 years it doesn’t fail to surprise me and the audience.”

During the 10th Habitat Film Festival, New Delhi, we had a great opportunity to have an exclusive conversation with this master of the movies and here we get you the conversation:

What encompasses more of you, a dancer or an actor?

I have always respected dance but the reason I switched my career as an actor is just because of the versatility cinema offers. It reaches out to more people and encompasses everything within itself whether it is dance, politics, technology, science etc. and goes beyond, that’s the strength of cinema that everyone from Hitler to Kamal Haasan wants to use.

How do you feel being a part of epic movies like Sadma, Sagara Sangamam, Swathi Muthyam and so on?

Always proud. When we make it, we know it’s a good movie, later, because of the audience it becomes a great one. When we were making Swathi Muthyam we were scared because we had precedent like Sagara Sangamam. We were nervous but we did get a second chance with audience.

How you get the concept of making movies with different messages and performing 10 different roles in a single movie?

These all are the things that have been in my tradition as an actor. If you see an old form of theatre, Dasavathaaram has been a part of the tradition and in Kuchipudi, one actor plays all avatars. So, it is nothing new but we are just getting back to our traditions. That is why Behroopi is another name for an actor.

What sort of roles do you love to take-up?

It doesn’t matter what the role is, but it has to be intelligent and should not insult the intelligence of the audience. The movie should make the audience feel elevated, intellectually.

Any script you are working on right now?

I am working on a thriller script which is going to be directed by a debutant, who has worked with me as an assistant director.

When would we see your entire family in a movie together?

I hope we act together someday, but I do not know. The next film I am doing is with Gautami Tadimalla, which is called Papanasam and is soon to be released.

What is your day like?

Well, I wake up! (Laughing)

My day starts early and after the entire cleansing and regular thing, I read newspaper and prefer doing nothing for 10-20 minutes. That moment I am just staring into space which I believe is really important.

Do you guide your children on what sort of roles to take up and the kind of scripts to choose?

Even I have never taken any advice. So, I think the kindness I owe to my parents, I shouldn’t do something different from what they did for me. They have been giving me opinion but never rules. When I wanted to go rational and loose my religion they allowed me to do it. They gave me an opinion of never ruling or giving out an advice, so I am doing the same with my children.

How did you feel when Akshara debuted with Amitabh Bachchan?

Well, I am very happy because even I have debuted with some of the biggest stars when I was four. It is a great opportunity but a deadly responsibility as well.

Do critics’ comments affect you?

Critics are professional and they have a job to do. Imagine having to say something every week! So, yes, it is a tedious job and as monotonous as of an actor.

I think critic according to me is a man who sculpts me rather than scratching. There have been many in my life but one of them is late K.Balachandran who has been my critic and an audience too. He did it both ways, sculpted, patted and repeated it till I didn’t get a good form. So, I think this is really important to make an artist better.

So, critics’ job is to make an artist better but not to challenge him and proving him to be a fool because that wouldn’t help the art. He has to make the artist feel the need to improve in a best possible way, which won’t happen by insulting him.

If not an actor, who would you be?

A film fan. I love movies and in spite of being an actor I watch movies whenever I can, even mine. Moving images are my biggest weakness.

Any movie that keeps you engrossed no matter how many times you watch it?

I have watched Vishwaroopam like 100 times by now, but it never fails to engross me. The feeling of watching it with the audience is just magical because you get to know that your purpose of living is justified as your audience gets equally engrossed in the movie and emotes along with the character.

Do you believe that you are a narcissist?

I think everyone is. If you have a mirror in your house, then you are a narcissist but there is no harm in being one unless it becomes your preoccupation. And I believe that narcissism is when you are pretty satisfied with your own self but I like to see change. The mirror on the wall usually says what pleases you but my mirror never seems to please me. Standing in front of it, I always ask myself what is the toughest role in this entire world and an answer comes from within that nothing but playing Kamal Hasaan.

Who do you see as a rising star in Tollywood as well as Bollywood?

There are so many that it would be wrong to point at any one. Some 37 years back, nobody could have guessed that I would come so far. Probably, there is a big star lurking there, so if I don’t point at him, I shouldn’t miss out on him either. There are many who can replace me, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and many more and that what is the strength of India.

As the conversation got over, we realised that a true star is the one who never fails to give back what he has received from the audience, someone who knows the heights he/she is at but never forgets the ground he took the flight from and someone who is so warm and humble that instantly he/she gains immense respect and a huge space in your heart and Kamal Hasaan is all of it, an Uttam actor and a super-Uttam human being.

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