In recent times we have been thoroughly entertained by some rousing thought-provoking movies by Aamir Khan. The expectation levels keep soaring with his every box-office outing and a what’s next? question is a pop-up in all our mind screens! While this awakening is unfolding big time, my mind locks on to another Actor par-excellence working quietly down South, who has made awesome movies covering a kaleidoscope of stories & issues, always wonderfully told. That’s Kamalhassan, the multi-skilled, multi-talented actor from Kollywood, Tamilnadu. He is awfully handsome, can sing, dance, love, fight, laugh, write scripts & direct - there is almost nothing he has not done in the movies!

His output is mainly in Tamil and perhaps does not get the pan-India or global attention of an Aamir Khan movie or even that of his Japan & Malaysia -loved contemporary Rajinikanth. Nonetheless, his every movie is so well-crafted and path-breaking that it would make an Aamir Khan look like a pauper! Further, Kamal’s movies are far evolved over the average expectation on a Tamil moviegoer that they invariably do not get the mature response of a Bollywood or Hollywood movie.

While it is sickening to see Amitab Bacchan appear with his signature French-beard in movie after movie we never see a Kamal in a standard format. He becomes the very character; growing(or shaving) his hair, his beard, his height & weight (at times shortening his height too) or even twisting his flesh & bones to match every aspect, even better than a chameleon (What’s that?) More than Aamir, he researches, perfects, breathes life and really lives every role he plays.

Watch him in ‘16 Vayathenilayaai’ transform into a paan-chewing limp, or in ‘Abburva Sagothargal ‘‘where he becomes a dwarf, or in ‘Avvai Shanmugi ‘where he make-ups as a Brahmin Aunty or his recent blockbuster Dasavatharam where he plays ten different characters from George Bush to an old grandma! He has given some mighty sterling performances in ‘Theevar Magan, Anbai Sivam, Salangai Oli, Elamai Oonjaladithu ‘ to mention a few. In Mahanadhi he plays a peace loving farmer who is inveigled by a city smart guy into starting a Chit Fund Company which goes bust-and he ends up in jail. He returns to find his young daughter molested and sent to a brothel and his son forced into being a street beggar/trickster. When he finally gets them back, he breaks down & sobs: “Why is it that a bad man gets everything that a good man should get by default? Why do they ask you to tell the truth and be honest at school?” That scene is forever etched in my mind!

In ‘Theevar Magan’ the way he trembles on his knees, with enormous respect, his lips twitching, before his father (in the movie)- the Master Actor Sivaji Ganesan, is simply unforgettable! Go watch the movie for that scene alone!

The variety of Kamal’s movies is mind boggling from historical to the modern, from love, romance, through caste parochialism, regional chauvinism, hate, murder, rowdyism, revenge, musicals to light-hearted comedy, there is probably nothing he has not touched upon. In the yester-year hugely successful ‘Sivappu Rojakkal’ he plays a deranged manic mentally affected by child abuse, growing into a woman serial killer who runs out of luck when he marries the smart SriDevi. Who can forget the Don in Manirathinam’s ‘Nayakkan’ which won him a national Best Actor Award or ‘Indian’ where he convincingly fought corruption in India. Watch him in Veettaiyadu Vilayadu where as a Cop he successfully investigates and tracks down two Doctor murderers across Continents. Kamal gave us one of the first silent movies in India –Pusphak/Pesumpadam – a silent delight of the pleasures of a five-star hotel impersonation.

Kamal’s movies have touched upon so many issues veiled in the culture of Tamilnadu that almost all his movies has some self-appointed ‘culture guardian’ crying foul over a perceived interpretation. His ‘Viruvandi’ portrayed the hacking culture peculiar to South Tamilnadu-recall the pathetic condition of a Tamilnadu Cop hacked down and left to bleed on the road, while Ministers sashayed by.

His recent movie ‘Unnai Pol Oruvan’ (Remake of - A Wednesday) had no songs, was a short as an English movie and showcased yet another cool & composed avatar of Kamal – normal (just like you & me), ordinary citizen.

Oscar or no Oscar, Kamal is the best ever Actor India has ever produced! I almost always return from his every movie remembering the character and never Kamalhassan. He leaves a lasting impression by his performances. I reckon I (we) can admiringly call him, KAMAL THE GREAT!