50 years ago, a small boy appeared on screen in a movie ‘Kalathur Kanamma’. Little did we know that the small boy would reach greater heights. From Kalathur Kanamma, Moondru Mudichu, Sigappu Rojakkal, Varumayin Niram Sivappu, Guna, Mahanadi, Nayagan, Devar Magan to the latest Dasavatharam, there was no looking back. No prizes for guessing…He is none other than Ulaga Nayagan Padmashri Dr.Kamal Haasan. The versatile actor has now completed 50 successful years in the film industry as not only an actor but also has taken many avatar’s like script writer, producer, director, singer and others. Vijay TV will commemorate and celebrate his success through a spate of events lined up till September.

Briefing the media at a press conference, K.Sriram, General Manager, Vijay TV said, “The celebration decided will be a month long one and it will be both on ground and off ground events that will go on air. This is first of a kind that has been decided for a star and the whole mega event has been segregated into 3 phases.” A core team comprising of K.Balachander, Director, Sivakumar, Actor, Sarath Kumar, Actor and Producer, Napolean, MP, Directors- A.R.Murugadoss, Mysskin, Actors Kushboo and Jaimala, Singer and Producer S.P.Charan, film critics Madan and Yugi Sethu will be monitoring the whole celebrations and will take care of coordinating it.

Phase 1 will have a Volvo Kamal Bus that will travel around Tamil Nadu and the bus will have an exclusive and rare photo exhibition of Kamal Hassan’s life. A signature campaign will also take place where fans, technicians and artists will sign and wish the actor. Phase 2 will have an event called ‘Thamizhum Kamalum’ at Madurai which would be a literary discussion and ‘Kamalum Kadhalum’ which will be a grand musical nite at Coimbatore. A Kamal Film Festival will also be going on at Satyam Cinemas featuring the best Kamal movies. Special On air episodes will also be going on Vijay TV. Phase 3 will be the Grand Finale that will happen in Chennai featuring stars from Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil industries. Performances would be given by artists and it will be a mega event, promises K.Sriram and the core team.

What the stars said:

Mysskin: I have wondered so many times that how much can a man strive for movies. It is a sole achievement for 50 years. I’am a great admirer of him and I have learnt what is cinema from his movies.

Yugi Sethu: He is the best man suited for the Ulaga Nayagan title and he learns about cinema constantly. These 50 years is a mark of a new beginning and we will be witnessing a lot of classic movies again from him.

Kushboo: He still does home work for a movie and his eagerness to learn more is something to be appreciated. I’am proud to have acted in a lot of movies with him. His world and life is cinema. He thinks, breathes, eats, sleeps, walks and dreams cinema.

A.R.Murugadoss: Kamal sir is a temple of knowledge. He has shown the road to success to so many of us. I have a small suggestion to make here. Why not name Eldams Road, Alwarpet as Dr.Kamal Haasan road. This idea should be taken to our Chief Minister and even if we don’t do it, the future generations would definitely do it.

S.P.Charan: I’am glad to have been associated with this special event. I’am in charge for coordinating the musical nite. I’am looking forward for it.

Cheran: It is enough if one watches his movies to learn the nuances of cinema. He has taught me what is cinema and also to so many others. This mega event is what we give in return to him. I became emotional when I watched Guna in the theatre. I understood that a movie should be made like this.

Ravi K.Chandran: I had the wonderful experience of working with him in Marudanayagam. One can speak anything and everything about cinema to him and you will learn so much.

Sarathkumar: Kamal Haasan is a treasure for our industry. One can speak about him even after 25 years and even then, he will be giving awesome movies to us. That is Kamal. I keep asking him when he give me a chance to act with him. Hope it comes true soon.

Anitha.R