Most people know Kamal Haasan as the “Ulaganayagan” (Universal Hero)–the man of a thousand faces who redefined Indian cinema. But behind the prosthetics and powerhouse performances lies a deeply intellectual writer.
Literature by Kamal Haasan is not a hobby but the cornerstone of his filmmaking. Today, we delve deep into those books and writings that prove he is as much the master of the pen as he is a master of the camera.
The Visionary Editor: The Maiam Legacy
The late 1980s saw Kamal Haasan do something no superstar was expected to do: he started a serious literary magazine, Maiam. It wasn’t a fan magazine filled with gossip; it was a serious platform for poetry, social commentary, and intellectual debate.
Recently, these writings were compiled into “Maiam: Thaerndheydutha Padaippugal” (Selected Works from Maiam). These essays read like a peek into the mind of a philosopher today.
He talks about everything from the nuances of art to the future of society with a clarity that was years ahead of its time.
From Serialized Fiction to the Big Screen: Dhaayam
Long before psychological thriller Aalavandhan became a cult classic in 2001, it was a story called Dhaayam, which translates to The Dice.
This story, serialized in the Tamil magazine Idhayam Pesugirathu in 1984, had Kamal weaving complex psychological shades into fiction. It remains an engrossing piece of literature for those interested in how a written narrative evolves into a visual masterpiece.
Screenplays as Literature
Kamal Haasan is one of the few filmmakers in the country whose screenplays are read as books by many literature students and groups. His scripts possess a “literary density” that refers to the layers of subtext, historical mentions, and poetic dialogue.
Hey Ram: A profound look at India’s partition and Gandhian philosophy.
Thevar Magan: A screenplay so tight it is often used as a textbook in storytelling structure.
Virumaandi: A research on capital punishment and the subjectivity of truth.
Note: Most of these scripts have been published in book form and are considered required reading for writers and filmmakers.
The Voice of the Poet: Kamal Haasan Kavithaigal.
Poet Kamal Haasan’s compositions are applauded for their Santha Nayam and profundity. Kamal regularly uses words that are “Pure Tamil” and forceful enough that they demand that the reader ponder them.
Kamal Haasan’s poems are more than love poems: they encompass atheistic, humanist, scientific, and common-man concerns.
Book Dhaayam Serialized Novel Psychological Thriller
Hey Ram Published
Fiction Final Thoughts: Why You Should Read His Work. To know Kamal Haasan as an actor, you have to know Kamal Haasan as a writer first. His literature contains the “blueprints” for his films.
Whether it is in the form of a 140-character poem or a 3-hour cinematic experience in an epic film, his devotion to literature makes his films immortal.
What is your favorite Kamal Haasan story? Perhaps it is in written form in an article penned by him?