Kamal Hassan turns 55, completes 50 years in cinema

There's no denying that Tamil superstar Kamal Hassan is one the greatest actors of his generation, the legend celebrated his 55th birthday today, along with the 50th anniversary of his debut in cinema.

Hassan won his first National Award as a child artist for his screen debut in ''Kalathur Kannamma'' in 1959. Taking a cue from the Hollywood heavyweight Dustin Hoffman, Hassan is famous for being one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. Apart from being a noted actor and director, Hassan is a screenwriter, lyricist, playback singer and choreographer.

Kamal Hassan made his film debut in 1959 in the film Kalathur Kannamma when he was just a 6-year-old child artiste. Later he was cast as an adult for the first time in the 1975 film Apoorva Raagangal in which he played a controversial role of a rebellious youth in love with an older woman. In 1982 he claimed his first Indian National Film Award for the film 'Moondram Pirai' in which he played a teacher who tends a child-like amnesiac. He had already won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist in his debut film.

In 1976, Haasan appeared in the drama Moondru Mudichu with Rajinikanth and Sridevi, followed by Manmadha Leelai, and Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu. In 16 Vayathinile he appeared as an mentally ill villager, once again alongside Rajinikanth and Sridevi and in Sigappu Rojakal he appeared as a psychopathic sexual killer. All of these four consecutive films earned him Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Awards. Haasan's 100th career film appearance was in 1981's Raja Paarvai, which also marked his debut in film production. 'Ek Duuje Ke Liye', became his first Hindi-language film and he followed it up with 'Sagar' and 'Geraftar'.

Haasan appeared in Mani Rathnam's 1987 film Nayagan in which he portrayed the life of an underworld don in Bombay. The film was featured in Time magazine's list of '100 greatest movies of all time' and it earned Hassan another National Award. He followed it up with the mindblowing silent black comedy 'Pushpak'. He then played a triple role in Apoorva Sagodharargal, dual roles in Indrudu Chandrudu, and four roles in Michael Madhana Kamarajan. He then won his third National Film Award for Best Actor in Indian where he again played a double role. Later films include Anbe Sivam, Hey Ram, Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu, and Dasavathaaram where he played ten different roles. The latter has become the second highest grossing film ever in Tamil cinema.