Disclaimer:- This review is not entirely on Kamal Hassan.Despite my constant efforts in using the mouthpad to introduce the topic-’Five best actors of tamil cinema’, I have been unsuccessful.Hence I am writing the review under this category, Please bear with me................
5.Vikram Vikram is one actor who exudes sincerity even in absolutely inconsequential roles such as ’Samurai’ and ’Kaadhal sadugudu’.He was not lucky enough to have a godfather in the film industry a la Vijay or Sibiraj and was forced to do asinine roles in equally lacklustre films.He was under the grave danger of fading away into obscurity when Bala recognised the spark in him.Vikram was offered the role of Chiyaan in the movie ’Sethu(remade into ’Tere naam’)....and then there was no looking back.Such was his performance in the movie that the name’Chiyaan’ stuck to him.Be it the road side gangster in ’Gemini’ or the police officer in’Saamy’ , he lends a certain chutzpah to his portrayals.He won the National award for 2003 for the movie’Pithamagan’(by Bala) for his mind-blowing performance as an eccentric grave digger.His last movie ’Anniyan’(Aparachit) too was a great success and’Bhima’(his next film)is one of the most awaited movies in the Kollywood circle.Three cheers for ’Chiyaan’!!!
4.Soorya
This guy is sheer dynamite!! Being the son of yesteryear actor Sivakumar did fetch him some roles in the beginning.However, Soorya has clambered up the ladder of success purely on the strength of talent, dedication and a disciplined approach towards selecting roles.Like Vikram, Soorya too did star in some lousy flicks at the wake of his career...in fact , there was a time when he wouldn’t merit a second look.But currently , he is the biggest heart-throb of Kollywood.Here again , Bala played the crucial role in shaping this lad’s future by offering him ’Nanda’.Then followed ’Pithamagan’ where he played a petty thief with so much enthusiasm.’Kaaka kaaka’ cemented his place in the movie industry, for Soorya stunned the audience with his smouldering intensity in this flick.’Ghajini’, a revenge drama with a difference , is yet another notable movie of Soorya.Such is this guy’s charisma that even Aamir Khan is bowled over by him!!
3.Nagesh
I expect that many of you are dismayed to find Nagesh on this list....But I really can’t think of a better comedian(best comedienne-Manorama) in the history of Kollywood.His very presence can send the audience into paroxysms of mirth.His comic timing is just too good and his one-liners very astute!! Nagesh is one under-rated performer who is often looked upon as kind of jester while MGR, Gemini Ganesan and the likes are idolised.This a very sad state of affairs considering the fact that he has a lot of meaningful roles to his credit. I have watched ’Edirneechal’ ever so may times and marvelled at Nagesh’s spontaneity.He also outshone Muthuraman in the movie’Server sundarm’ where he plays a loser with an inferiority complex.As a rumourmonger in ’Iru Kodugal’ and a silent lover in ’Thamarai nenjam’, Nagesh has expressed an array of emotions.I also admire his dancing in the song ’Avalukenna azhagiya mugam’ .Even in small roles as in ’Nammavar’ and ’Vasoolraja’, Nagesh once again proved that one can replace him!!
2.Shivaji Ganesan
To do a comprehensive job of expanding on’ Nadigar Tilakam’ Shivaji Ganesan is an impossible task, for this stupendous thespian has such a magnificient range.He has delivered the best of performances in the most trying roles.Shivaji grabbed the attention of moviegoers with his impressive soliloquy in the iconic courtroom scene of the revolutionary movie ’Parasakthi’(written by current TN CM Karunanidhi).He is perhaps one of the very few actors who look convincing in mythological roles.Casepoint?As Narada in’ Saraswati sabadam’...as Veerabahu in’Kandan karunai’ and as Lord Shiva in himself’Thiruvilayadal’....these are some of the notable roles of Shivaji. Comedy (Kalayana gallata) , Pathos(Deiva magan) or yearning(Enga mama)-he can easily beat his contemporaries hands down!He aged gracefully but could still emote perfectly well.One can only stare in awe as he even mananges to outshine Kamal Hassan in some scenes of ’Devar Magan’!!
1.Kamal Hassan
And now for the piece de resistance...!!Kamal Hassan is one of God’s gifts to Indian cinema without a shred of doubt.His conviction, depth and versimilitude is something which not many actors possess.Little did we realise that the kid in ’Kalathur kanamma’ would make such waves?....Kamal Hassan has worked with the best of directors-ranging from K.Balachander to Gautham Menon and has thus gained a lot of knowledge regarding filmmaking.The roles which Kamal Hassan has played through these years are radically different.If he played the obsessed lover in ’Guna’, he has also played the joker in ’Apoorva sahodarargal’...if he has played the wronged simpleton in ’Mahanadi’ he also played the drag queen in ’Avvai shanmugi’.His dancing skills could put anyone to shame-just have a look at ’Salangai oli’ and ’Punnagai mannan’!!The press is however trying to defame this phenomenon by publishing slanderous gossip about his personal life which seems grossly unfair to me as a fan. But all said and done Kamal is a perfect pot-pourri of Looks, acting , dancing and an encyclopedia on filmmaking....few can deny it!!
My other favourite tamil actors who could not make it to the list are Prakashraj, Sivakumar, Cho, Karthik, Prabhu and Gemini ganesan....
Comments and suggestions for improvement are most welcome...........