The Master Of Disguise: Kamal Haasan And Indian 2
If there is one actor in Indian cinema who knows how to pull off a variety of looks and convincingly portray different characters with their unique and distinguishing features, it is hands down the legendary Kamal Haasan. With an expansive career to support the above statement, the Indian 2 actor is a master of disguises.
Kamal Haasan won the President’s Gold Medal for his debut film, Kalathur Kannamma, at the age of four. Since then, there’s been no looking back, with Haasan establishing himself as one of the finest actors to come out of Indian cinema. Having worked primarily in Tamil cinema and also dabbing in Malayalam, Telugu, Hindi, Bengali, and Kannada films, the ‘Ulaga Nayagan’ has proved his mettle as an actor, director, producer, singer, screenwriter, and more time and time again.
Read Also: Meet Michael Westmore, The Hollywood Hands Behind Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2 Look
A still from Chachi 420 or Avvai Shanmugi (image-X/SocialTamasha)
In his 1996 film Indian, Haasan transforms himself into the iconic (and 70-year-old) Senapathy with slick white hair, a look that, interestingly, was based on the actor’s father and other family members. Perhaps his most iconic and fondly remembered role is the iconic Chachi 420 or Avvai Shanmugi, inspired by legendary Robin Williams’ Mrs. Doubtfire. Haasan became a Tamil elderly woman donning nine yards of saree.
In the 2003 underrated film Anbe Sivam, also starring R. Madhavan, Haasan plays an angry young leader and later appears as a man with a scarred face, broken teeth, and a limp. The film received rave reviews from critics, with some describing Anbe Sivam as a modern classic.
But there was more to come.
Departing from single or double roles, Haasan essays ten distinctive characters, each with a different trait that sets them apart in Dasaavatharam (2008). In one of the first modern science-fiction films, the actor does justice to each role. A 12th-century Vaishnavite priest, an NRI bio-scientist, an Indian pop singer, a Japanese martial artist, a social activist, an old woman, an ex-CIA turned mercenary agent, a Telugu police officer, a 7-foot-tall tailor, and George W. Bush.
(image-Instagram/ikamalhaasan)
Haasan’s performance was widely praised. Dasaavatharam even became the first Tamil film to be distributed by Walt Disney Pictures in Canada.
Read Also: How Kamal Haasan’s Indian (1996) Influenced Other Movies?
Just when fans thought Hasaan could not top it, the legendary actor released his most ambitious project: Vishwaroop, or Vishwaroopam. The National Award-winning film featured Haasan disguising himself as a Kathak teacher and a Tamil Jihadi in Kashmir wanted by the Indian army.
There are several other projects where the versatile actor put his acting skills on display under a variety of interesting disguises, such as Appu Raja (1990), Abhay (2001), and Uttama Villain (2015).
The Supreme Yaskin in ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ (image-X/@Kalki2898AD)
More recently, the pan-Indian actor was seen in Nag Ashwin’s directorial dystopian fiction Kalki 2898 AD as the main antagonist, Supreme Yaskin. Making his comeback to Telugu cinema, Haasan has once again earned praise for his performance as the mysterious and shrivelled leader of the dystopian world in the Prabhas starrer.
Senapathy in ‘Indian 2’ (image-screengrab/Lyca Productions)
Reprising the role of the vigilante Senapathy, Haasan will once again bring out his acting prowess on the stage, or rather, in theatres. With Academy Award-winning make-up artist Michael Westmore reuniting with Haasan, the film is expected to deliver a world-class performance.
Read Also: Shankar – The Extravagant Director; Know More Than What You See
According to reports, the actor is set to sport 12 different avatars, each different from the other. With an exceptional array of projects (and characters) in his kitty, it is no wonder the actor has earned the title of ‘Ulaga Nayagan.’
With anticipation reaching its peak, the Shankar directorial also features Siddharth, Nedumudi Venu, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, and more. Music composer Anirudh has penned the music for the sequel. To see the master display his skills, head to theatres as Indian 2 releases tomorrow.
