I think we don’t need much introduction about Padma Shree Kamal Hassan because he is a popular multi-talented artist in Kollywood cinema. He started his career as a child artist in 1960 and has done over 150+ movies in Tamil. Kamal Haasan is one of the few actors who has done a variety of characters on screen. Among these 150+ Kamal movies, we have picked the top 15 Kamal Haasan movies you must watch if you haven’t seen before.
Kamal Haasan Movies (1970-1990)
1. Manmadha Leelai
Manmadha Leelai is a romantic drama movie directed by K. Balachander under the banner ‘Kalakendra Movies’. The stars Kamal Haasan, Aalam, Jaya Prada, Y. Vijaya and Hema Chaudhary are top performers in this movie. Manmadha Leelai struggled to get censor certificate but later released in 1976 and later it got box office success. The story is about a philanderer husband and guiltless wife.
Music: M. S. Viswanathan Cinematographer: B. S. Lokanath Running Time: 2 hrs 41 mins Editor: N. R. Kittu
Best Songs of Manmadha Leelai: Manaivi Amaivathellam, Sugam Thana Sollu Kanne
2. Moondram Pirai
The romantic drama Tamil movie “Moondram Pirai’ starring Kamal Haasan and Sridevi was released in 1982 under the production “Sathya Jyothi Films”. ‘Balu Mahendra’ directed the movies with performers Silk Smitha, Poornam Vishwanathan, and Y. G. Mahendran in supporting roles. The movie narrates the story of a school teacher who rescues the retrograde amnesia patient from a brothel and helps her to recollect the past.
Music: Ilaiyaraaja Running Time: 2 hrs 23 mins Cinematographer: Balu Mahendra Editor: D. Vasu
Best Songs of Moondram Pirai: Kanne Kalai Mane, Poongatru Puthithanathu
3. Japanil Kalyanaraman
Japanil Kalyanaraman is a Tamil comedy movie where Kamal Haasan appears in a dual role as a hero and spirit. Radha plays the female lead role. The movie was directed by S. P. Muthuraman under the P. A. Art Productions. The movie was released in 1985 and got mixed reviews. The movie is about a journalist who exposes the details of smugglers and travels to Japan with his son and spirit for further printing works.
Music: Ilaiyaraaja Running Time: 2 hrs 10 mins Cinematographer: T. S. Vinayagam Editor: R. Vittal, C. Lancy
Best Songs of Japanil Kalyanaraman: Radhe En Radhe, Chinna Poo
4. Apoorva Sagodharargal
The movie “Apoorva Sagodharargal” was produced by Kamal Haasan’s own production house “Raaj Kamal Films International” and released in 1989. This action thriller movie was directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao with the performers Kamal Haasan, Jaishankar, Nagesh, Gautami, Rupini, Manorama, Srividya, Janagaraj, Moulee, Delhi Ganesh and Nassar. Where Kamal Haasan plays a duo role as mechanic and circus dwarf. In this story, two brothers, a mechanic and circus dwarf, take revenge on the four men who killed their honest police officer.
Music: Ilaiyaraaja Running Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Cinematographer: P. C. Sriram Editor: B. Lenin, V. T. Vijayan
Best Songs of Apoorva Sagodharargal: Raja Kaiya Vachchaa, Annaaththe Aaduraar
Kamal Haasan Movies (1991-2000)
5. Thevar Magan
Thevar Magan is a village-based story directed by Bharathan under the banner “Raaj Kamal Films International”. The top performers were Sivaji Ganesan, Kamal Haasan, Revathi, and Gautami and Nassar. The movie was released in 1992 and was a commercial success. “Inji Idupazhagi ”, favorite song for many takes place in this movie. Thevar Magan is a story of father and son who works hard for their villager’s protection and development.
Music: Ilaiyaraaja Running Time: 2 hrs 38 mins Cinematographer: P. C. Sriram Editor: B. Lenin, V. T. Vijayan
Best Songs of Thevar Magan: Inji Idupazhagi, Potri Paadadi Penne
6. Indian
‘Indian’ is one of the remarkable movies in Kamal Haasan’s career. It is a kind of social awareness movie acted by Kamal Haasan, Manisha Koirala, Urmila Matondkar, Sukanya, and Kasthuri in lead roles. Kamal Haasan appeared in both father and son roles. The movie was directed by Shankar under A.M. Mani Ratnam’s production house ‘Sri Surya Movies’ and released in 1996. This movie places awareness against corruption in India. Now, the process is going for the release of ‘Indian-2’.
Music: A. R. Rahman Running Time: 3 hrs 05 mins Cinematographer: Jeeva Editor: B. Lenin, V. T. Vijayan
Best Songs of Indian: Pachai Kiligal, Telephone Manipol
7. Avvai Shanmugi
Avvai Shanmugi is a comedy-drama movie directed by K.S. Ravikumar and released in 1996 after the successful movie ‘India’. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Meena in the lead where Gemini Ganesan, Nagesh, Heera, Manivannan, and Nassar play supporting roles. In this movie, Kamal Hassan uses ladies get-up as Avvai Shanmugi, a home maid to convince his angry wife Janaki (Meena).
Music: Deva Running Time: 2 hrs 41 mins Cinematographer: S. Murthy Editor: K. Thanikachalam
Best Songs of Avvai Shanmugi: Velai Velai, Kadhala Kadhala
Kamal Haasan Movies (2001-2010)
8. Pammal K. Sambandam
The Tamil comedy movie ‘Pammal K. Sambandam’ was released in 2002, starring Kamal Hasan and Simran in lead roles where Abbas, Sneha in subordinate roles. The movie was directed by Moulee under the banner Media Dreams. In this movie, Janaki’s (Simran) wristwatch is stuck in Sambantham’s (Kamal Haasan) stomach during surgery. so, Janaki indirectly approaches Sambantham to take out the watch without his knowledge. But, Sambandam hopes this scenario as love and approaches Janaki.
Music: Deva Running Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Cinematographer: Wilson & Saravanan Editor: Kasi Viswanathan
Best Songs of Pammal K. Sambandam: Sakalakala Vallavane, Yendi Soodamani
9. Panchathanthiram
Panchathanthiram is a comedy-drama movie directed by K.S. Ravikumar under the banner Sri Rajlakshmi Film (P) Ltd. The stars Kamal Haasan, Simran & Ramya Krishnan are in lead roles where Jayaram, Ramesh Aravind, Sriman, Yugi Sethu, Urvashi, Aishwarya, and Nagesh are in other roles. The movie was released in 2002 and got a decent box office. In this movie, a set of four naughty friends always creates struggles for Ram (Kamal Haasan).
Music: Deva Running Time: 2 hrs 28 mins Cinematographer: Arthur A. Wilson Editor: Thanikachalam
Best Songs of Pammal K. Sambandam: Vandhaen Vandhaen, Ennoda Kadhal
10. Anbe Sivam
Anbe Sivam is another comedy romantic movie from Kamal Haasan released in 2003 after the continuous success of Pammal K. Sambandam and Panchathanthiram. The movie was directed by Sundar C with the performers Kamal Haasan, Madhavan, Kiran Rathod, Nassar, Santhana Bharathi, Seema, and Uma Riyaz Khan under the production house ‘Lakshmi Movie Makers’. This movie relates the lives of two strangers, later friends (Kamal Haasan and Madhavan) in a single woman’s life. One is a woman’s ex-boyfriend and the other is the woman’s groom.
Music: Vidyasagar Running Time: 2 hrs 40 mins Cinematographer: Arthur A. Wilson Editor: P. Sai Suresh
Best Songs of Anbe Sivam: Elo Machi, Poo Vaasam Purapadum
11. Virumaandi
Kamal Haasan simultaneously acted, directed, produced, and edited in the movie “Virumaandi’ and made it successful. The film features Kamal Haasan and Abhirami in lead roles, alongside Pasupathy, Napoleon, Rohini, Shanmugarajan, and Nassar in other roles. The action drama movie was released in 2004 and made a commercial success. This movie narrates the story of two prisoners Kothala Thevar (Pasupathy) and Virumandi (Kamal Haasan).
Music: Ilayaraaja Running Time: 2 hrs 55 mins Cinematographer: Keshav Prakash Editor: Ram, Haasan
Best Songs of Virumaandi: Sandiyare Sandiyare, Onnavida
12. Vasool Raja MBBS
Vasool Raja MBBS is a commercial entertainer movie directed by Saran under the banner “Gemini Film Circuit”. The film features Kamal Haasan, Sneha in lead roles and Prakash Raj Prabhu, Nagesh, Rohini Hattangadi, Jayasurya, Malavika, Crazy Mohan and Karunas in supporting roles. The film was distributed by Raaj Kamal Films International and released in 2004. Vasool Raja is a local don who collects usury interest but he fakes his father, father in law as an MBBS student.
Music: Bharadwaj Running Time: 2 hrs 40 mins Cinematographer: A. Venkatesh Editor: Suresh Urs
Best Songs of Vasool Raja MBBS: Pathukulle Number, Seena Thana
13. Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu
Ulaga Nayagan Kamal Haasan appears as a super cop in the movie “Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu” opposite Jyothika, and Kamalinee Mukherjee while Prakash Raj, Daniel Balaji, and Salim Baig are in supporting roles. This action thriller movie was directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon under the banner Seventh Channel Communications and released in 2006. In this movie, police officer Raghvan (Kamal Haasan) investigates the former Chennai police officer Arogya Raj and his family murder case. Music: Harris Jayaraj Running Time: 2 hrs 54 mins Cinematographer: Ravi Varman Editor: Anthony
Best Songs of Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu: Partha Mudhal, Manjal Veyil
14. Dasavatharam
Kamal Haasan is the only actor after Sivaji Ganeshan (9 Different Characters) who has appeared in ten different characters in the same movie. He creates this record through the movie ‘Dasavatharam’ under the direction of K. S. Ravikumar. Aascar Film Pvt. Ltd produced the movie and released it in 2008. Asin and Mallika Sherawat as female leads. This is a science fiction movie that exposes the story of Bio-weapon.
Music: Himesh Reshammiya & DSP Running Time: 3 hrs 05 mins Cinematographer: Ravi Varman Editor: K. Thanikachalam
Best Songs of Dasavatharam: Ulaga Nayagan, Mukundha Mukundha
Kamal Haasan Movies (2011-2020)
15. Papanasam
Papanasam is a commercial family entertainer remade from Malayalam with the stars Kamal Haasan, Gautami, Nivetha Thomas, Esther Anil, Asha Sarath, and Kalabhavan Mani. The drama thriller movie was produced by Wide Angle Creations & Rajkumar Theatres Pvt. Ltd under the direction of Jeethu Joseph and released in 2015. The film narrates the story of Suyamblingam and the family accused of the murder of the police inspector’s son.
Music: Ghibran Running Time: 3 hrs 01 mins Cinematographer: Sujith Vasudev Editor: Ayoob Khan
Best Songs of Papanasam: Yeya En Kottikkaaraa, Vinaa Vinaa
