Kamal Haasan was born on November 7, 1954, in Paramakudi town of Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district. He was born to D Srinivasan, a lawyer & freedom fighter, and Rajalakshmi, who was a housewife in a Tamil Iyengar Brahmin family.
His career in the Tamil film industry began as a child artiste in the 1960-film Kalathoor Kannamma and he has been part of the film industry for over 60 years. He had done over 220 films in all major languages including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. He is also a filmmaker, playback singer, television presenter and politician.
He has received more than 116 awards, including the Kalaimamani award in 1984, Padma Shri in 1990 and Padma Bhushan in 2014. He was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at 15th Mumbai International Film Festival in 2013.
His films that have gone on to become cult classics include Rajapaarvai (1981), Sathya (1988), Apoorva Sahotharargal (1989), Thevar Magan (1992), Mahanadi (1994), Kurudhippunal (1995), Avvai Shanmugi (1996), Hey Ram (2000), Pammal K Sambandam (2002), Panchathanthiram (2002) and Anbe Sivam (2003).
He played 10 characters in the 2008 film Dasavatharam. He also stars opposite Mohanlal in the 2009 crime thriller Unnaipol Oruvan, a remake of the hindi movie A Wednesday.
His later films, spy-thriller Viswaroopam (2013) and action-thriller Vikram (2022) were both commercial hits. On February 21, 2018, he formally launched his political party, Makkal Needhi Maiam.
Kamal Haasan is known for being frank, stating his opinions and encouraging debate about topics that are socially relevant. He contested unsuccessfully in the 2021 Tamil Nadu assembly election from Coimbatore South and lost by a narrow margin to the BJP candidate.
Kamal Haasan's film Sandiyar faces opposition from the Puthiya Tamilagam party over political and caste-related concerns in Tamil Nadu.
This edition of Super 6 covers key political and civic developments across South India. The DMK launched an attack on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay after he attended a high-profile wedding reception in Chennai alongside actor Trisha and prominent leaders.
A controversy over alleged corruption in book procurement at Tamil Nadu's Periyar Library has surfaced, involving inflated prices and poor-quality books. Officials have promised a detailed inquiry.
The Tamil Nadu government has initiated an inquiry into alleged financial corruption and irregularities in book procurement at the Periyar Library during the previous DMK regime. The scam was exposed by acclaimed author Perumal Murugan in a column, alleging that books were bought at massively inflated rates, with many featuring dubious author names, fictitious Chief Ministers, and AI-generated text. Reacting to the revelation, actor-politician Kamal Haasan called the circulation of fake books treason against Tamil Nadu, demanding their immediate withdrawal and strict action against fraudulent publishing houses. School Education Minister Rajmohan confirmed that a formal investigation will be ordered.
A debate on whether Tamil Nadu politics is witnessing a structural transformation beyond traditional Dravidian parties, featuring political analyst Dr Sumanth C. Raman and senior journalist Shekhar Iyer. Dr Raman argued that neither actor Dhanush nor former state BJP chief Annamalai match the cinematic mass appeal commanded by TVK chief Vijay. Emphasising the political landscape, Dr Raman remarked, 'Vijay owes his office to the DMK and its ruinous governance of five years.' Shekhar Iyer noted that Annamalai's initial momentum and social media drive had plateaued, leaving him unable to sustain his base for civic polls. The panellists examined whether actors such as Dhanush and Sivakarthikeyan can successfully convert fan associations into viable political vehicles, highlighting the critical role played by caste coalitions, minority backing, and women voters in deciding electoral outcomes across Tamil Nadu.
Shruti Haasan spoke at the India Today South Conclave in Kochi about legacy, scrutiny and her career across films and music. She said her effort has been to stand as Shruti first while navigating expectations around her surname.
The big focus of this episode of Super 6 is on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay skipping the swearing-in ceremony of Kerala chief minister-designate VD Satheesan on Monday and TVK expanding its base into Kerala following success in Tamil Nadu.
The Axis My India exit poll projected a massive victory for Tamil superstar Vijay's newly formed political party TVK in the just concluded Tamil Nadu assembly elections.
Tamil Nadu's politics is deeply rooted in Dravidianism, shaped by iconic leaders who defined generations. The political landscape began with Periyar's social justice movement in the 1930s, followed by CN Annadurai who formed the DMK in 1949 and brought Tamil identity into governance after the 1967 victory.
The party has also targeted actor Vijay, predicting he will follow the same path and exit politics after the elections.
The broadcast focuses on a political leader's explanation for joining a major alliance. Kamal Haasan said that their party's ideology resembles that of the alliance partner. Addressing the upcoming 2026 elections, the leader clarified that a previous 'war cry' was not directed against the partner. A reporter provided updates, noting the leader's hint about a potential future leadership change involving the alliance partner's scion. The segment highlights the evolving political dynamics in the state.
This special report from India Today focuses on Kerala, where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has formally declared the state free from extreme poverty in a special legislative session. The opposition, however, boycotted the assembly, with Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan alleging the claim is a 'fraud built on manipulated data'. The UDF opposition has termed the announcement an election-era hoax and criticised the special session as an extravagance, while also continuing its demand for Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan's resignation over the Sabarimala gold theft case. The government maintains the declaration is the result of a four-year-long Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme that has uplifted 64,006 families through targeted micro-plans for housing, food, and healthcare. The announcement, made on Kerala's formation day, is being celebrated with a grand event attended by dignitaries including Kamal Haasan, Mammootty, and Mohanlal.
This special report from India Today covers Kerala's historic declaration as India's first extreme poverty-free state, announced by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the state's formation day, November 1st. A key government official stated, 'With a single government order, we brought all those 4,667 families who were homeless under life mission scheme.' The report delves into the state's Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme, which identified 64,006 destitute families through extensive surveys and implemented micro-plans to provide housing, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities. Featuring personal stories from beneficiaries who received homes and support through initiatives like the Life Mission scheme, the programme examines the ground-level impact of this ambitious social welfare achievement. However, some economists and activists have questioned the methodology and data behind the government's claim.
This edition of Super 6 reports on the deaths of over a dozen children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, allegedly due to the consumption of the toxic cough syrup.
The political landscape in Tamil Nadu is heating up as film stars take centre stage in public disagreements. Kamal Haasan remarked that crowds do not automatically convert into votes, a comment aimed at TVK chief Vijay. This followed actor Rajinikanth's criticism of Vijay and his separate endorsement of Chief Minister Stalin. The transcript also notes Rajinikanth's support for Stalin. Adding to the conflict, BJP's Tamil Sai Sondararajan accused Kamal Haasan of political posturing without action. One speaker articulated a strong view on such developments, stating that parties formed for "self-motivation, selfish nature... that type of politics should be abolished." These escalating verbal battles and strategic endorsements are paving the way for a significant political showdown in Tamil Nadu.
Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan has addressed the political controversy surrounding insults aimed at the Prime Minister's mother. Haasan stated there is “no need to abuse or insult anyone” in politics. His comments come as a Congress worker faced criticism for allegedly abusing the Prime Minister’s mother, leading to growing pressure on the Congress and RJD to apologize. Haasan connected the issue to the long-standing problem of names missing from voter lists, a matter he has previously raised. He recounted his personal experience, stating, “Even my name was missing in the list.” While condemning personal attacks, his statement is viewed as a subtle defense of his allies in the INDIA Alliance, asserting that the mishandling of voter data is the core issue that needs attention.
In Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's singing of the RSS anthem in the Vidhana Soudha generated political debate, prompting his clarification.
In this edition of Super 6, the focus is on Rahul Gandhi's press conference where he accused the Election Commission of India of colluding with the BJP to manipulate voter rolls and influence elections.
MP Kamal Haasan has stated that the NEET examination is responsible for taking education away from children, claiming that since 2017, it has prevented poor children from aspiring to a medical education. The comments were made at an event for the Aagaram Foundation, an educational organisation founded by actor Surya. Haasan asserted, "education is the only way to break dictatorial and sanatana shackles." The foundation, which works to provide education to underprivileged children, has reportedly been unable to create new batches of medical aspirants since 2017 due to the examination. This statement highlights the ongoing opposition to the NEET exam in Tamil Nadu, with critics arguing it hinders access to medical studies for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
India and the Maldives have bolstered their bilateral relations during the Maldives' 60th Independence Day, exchanging four MOUs and three agreements, including a US $565 million line of credit for defence, housing, and healthcare.
