Recently, on the eve of the 50th year felicitation function organized by the Government of Kerala for Kamal Hassan, KB was all appreciative about Kamal. Though he couldn't attend the function, KB has shown his immense admiration as a mentor and friend for Kamal in his letter to the press.
Rajini the phenomenon, Kamal the Icon
Though KB accepts that he neither travels much nor attends film related functions due to his age, he admits that his weariness dries, heart lightens and spirits soar when he has to speak about Kamal. He also says that he would like to be present in any stage in any country just to talk about or watch Kamal's performance. He even goes on to admit that he gratefully rests in the laurels of Rajini and Kamal. He says that "if Rajini has grown beyond imagination, Kamal has evolved into everything he dreamt of". If Rajini, the phenomenon, stands tall for the world to see, Kamal is an icon, a monarch of all he surveys is what he has to say about the giants.
Kudos Kerala
It's known to us that Kamal acted in a variety of films in Malayalam before finding foot in Tamil. Identifying this, KB praised the likes of Thakazhi Sivasankaran Pillai, Vaikkom Basheer and P Bhaskaran for inspiring Kamal to underplay a role and to learn the nuances of cinema. He was generous in saying that it was the Malayalam industry which kindled the fire in Kamal's heart. So he thanked the most literate state in the country for identifying the talent so early in Kamal's career.
I did not discover Kamal
Referring to the inventions made by Edison, Alexander Bell, Marconi, KB says he is proud to find a place in history as he discovered Kamal. But, being humble as he ever is, he says that he did not discover Kamal but just gave him a platform to discover himself. "Kamal does not belong to me, he belongs to world cinema. I gave him away to the world as his imagination and creativity became insatiable", is his word.
Kamal is beyond competition
KB also reveals that Kamal learnt the art of cinema by probing, begging, watching, observing, demanding, experimenting, experiencing and learning. Though Kamal has lost more than what he has gained, he is beyond competition, beyond rivals. He draws him parallel to Sachin whose passion and love for the game and towards his country are as the same as Kamal. "Hey man! Kamal - I am proud of you my son", he beams.
Jack of all trades
Hailing him as the jack of all trades, KB points out Kamal's many talents. Identifying him as a story writer and a dialogue writer, KB says that he is good at screenplays and writing songs as well. Kamal can sing in Classical and Western notes, an accomplished Bharathnatyam dancer, a wizard in makeup and a master in latest technologies and computer graphics is his observation. He feels that Kamal's movies like Mahanadhi, Nayagan, Nammavar, Hey Ram, Guna, Alavandan and Devar Magan will be studied and referred by students and other international film-makers.
'!' - Kamal's identity
Astonished by Kamal's achievements, KB feels that the name Kamal Hassan would be replaced by the ! (Exclamation mark) soon. The reason he says is that the greatest personalities of the world have an identity of their own. Gandhi is identified by his glasses, Nehru by his rose, Bharathiyar by his moustache and MGR by his fur cap. Thus he feels that Kamal's name will be replaced by an exclamation mark as he simply ASTONISHES. Comparing Kamal to legends like Sivaji Ganesan, Nagesh, Dilip Kumar and Nageshwar Rao, KB feels that this 'one-of-a-kind-man' is not what he is because of me. On the contrary, I am what I am because of him.
He ends by confessing that he has lost his appetite for personal applause. "All I wish is to hear the applause, the cheers, the trumpets and the music singing Kamal Haasan's genius and fame!", he concludes.
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