Let's take a deeper dive into a legacy that has rewritten Tamil cinema’s ambitions and left the Oscars’ doors, if not flung open, at least visibly ajar.
Funny, isn’t it, how you could be halfway through your third filter coffee when it hits you - no Indian actor, not even the red carpet darlings, has matched Kamal Haasan’s extraordinary run: seven different films with his name front and center, sent by India as our “Best Foreign Language Film” hopefuls to the Oscars. Seven. That’s more than smarts; that’s borderline mythical.
So how did this even happen? Was it sheer talent, or was there a method to the madness? Let’s see if we can untangle that yarn.
Oscar Submissions: The Secret Sauce
Here’s a little nugget for you. While most actors chase one good Oscar horse, Kamal’s batting average is pure folklore - Saagar (1985), Swathi Muthyam (1986), Nayakan (1987), Thevar Magan (1992), Kuruthipunal (1995), Indian (1996), Hey Ram (2000).
Why him, again and again? Some believe it’s Kamal’s restless energy - constantly hunting for new ground. The guy doesn’t stick to one playbook, that’s for sure. You’d find him playing a gangster grappling with morality one year (Nayakan), and the next, he’s an autistic man with heart (Swathi Muthyam). Nothing formulaic. Even “Hey Ram” - India’s only time a political alternate history made it to the Oscars - he directed, wrote, and starred, swinging for the fences.
(Cinema Express)
Drama Behind the Curtain
Now, one might think this is all a perfectly polished tale. But it’s got edges, like life always does. Did you know - rumour has it, Oscar committees sometimes quarrelled fiercely over whom to send, but Kamal’s films were hard to ignore? Because his stories - often gritty, big-hearted, sometimes heartbreakingly tragic - felt authentic.
Some years, of course, the selection was political. Other years, a quiet consensus, “Let’s just send Kamal’s - at least it’ll look serious.” There’s an untold resilience in that - headwinds, snubs, awards politics. Through it all, Kamal just kept churning out cinema no jury could overlook.
The Record No One’s Touched
Isn’t it wild? Bollywood’s biggest names, from the Bachchans to the Khans, may have global stardom, but none have cracked Kamal’s Oscar innings. There’s something slightly mad - almost endearing - about the way he leapt language, geography, even genre. Seven submissions, spanning Tamil, Hindi, and Telugu cinema. Not one nomination still, but if “victory” just means gold statues and call-in-sick-for-the-afterparty headlines, what about the pride of knowing your country said, “He’s our best bet” - not once, but seven times?
Kamal Haasan, the celebrated Indian actor and filmmaker, was invited to join the Oscars voting committee, a significant milestone in his illustrious career. This invitation recognizes his global standing and decades of dedication to cinema.
(@thedailydpk/Instagram)
This year, as Kamal Haasan celebrates turning 71, the buzz isn’t just about his next film (and yes, ‘Thug Life’ is coming). It’s about looking back - realizing that cinema here didn’t wait for Hollywood’s nod to innovate. Kamal’s journey? A reminder that true legends don’t wait for applause or perfect endings. They just keep making history, moonwalking across genres, languages, and expectations.
And that’s the real secret, isn’t it? Not breaking records for the sake of it, but breaking them because nobody else dared try. Wishing a very Happy Birthday to you, Kamal Haasan ji!
