KAMAL HAASAN & SHANKAR :-
It goes without saying that Indian Cinema and a part of my childhood will be incomplete without Kamal Haasan & Shankar. Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan has collaborated with legends like K.Balachander, Bharathiraja, Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, K.S.Ravikumar etc. for a no.of films but has worked only once with Shankar & Mani Ratnam.
That’s understandable since Kamal Haasan is an All-arounder which often leads to creative difference with writers and directors. In the last 20 years, the only director who got complete creative freedom from Kamal Haasan was Gautham Menon in Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu. Since then, a director’s touch/trademark was either negligible or non-existent, it becomes an out and out Kamal Haasan show. Kamal Haasan maybe multitalented but filmmaking is teamwork.
Before the release of Savarakathi, Mysskin had said in an interview “Actors must exit the scene when their part is done, Never linger”. I believe it applies behind the lens as well. Once the actor is content with the script, director and technicians, he should sign the agreement and concentrate on his part alone.
Kamal Haasan hasn't always been self centered. More than 3 decades back he was acting in Aboorva Sagotharargal which he also co-wrote and produced. But difference is Kamal Haasan used to take inputs from associates and did what's best for the film as a whole.
In case you didn't know, the first draft of Aboorva Sagotharargal written by Kamal Haasan had a dark and serious tone. Raja is the who seeks revenge and the dwarf Appu was there only for melodrama. Kamal Haasan shot a song titled "Amma Aatha Kaalai Thottu Kumbidanum" with Gandhimathi playing Raja's Mother. Writer Panchu Arunachalam who co-wrote the film's final draft suggested Appu should be the main lead character. Kamal Haasan decided to write a different version and held discussions with writer Dinesh Shailendra. After the final draft was approved by Singeetam, Gandhimathi was replaced by Manorama.
Upon release Aboorva Sagotharargal became the new Industry Hit. Appu is regarded as one of the best characters enacted by Kamal Haasan. When you watch the film PC Sreeram's name will instantly strike your mind, so will Vaali for the lyrics and Ilaiyaraaja for the Music. It's a teamwork.
Over the years, Kamal distanced himself from people who used to be his strength. Imagine Uttama Villain with Crazy Mohan as the dialogue writer, its a good film but the flashback comedy scenes didn't work for many.
INDIAN :-
Kamal Haasan played dual roles in Indian, Senapathi is the central character but its hard to say Chandrabose (Kamal Haasan) is the 2nd lead because Krishnaswamy played by Nedumudi Venu leaves a lasting impression.
Both Senapathi & Krishnaswamy fight for justice but what differentiates them is the path they take. Senapathi takes the law into own hands but Krishnaswamy abides the law.
Watch : Indian - Krishnaswamy meets Senapathi
When Senapathi admits that he killed corrupt government officials, he says for him its not murder its like removing weed in an agriculture land. Krishnaswamy retorts and says "Every murderer has excuses to justify his crimes, I don't care about that, according to me you are still a murderer". A fight ensues, Senapathi critically injures Krishnaswamy.
Watch : Krishnaswamy recovers
Krishnaswamy is cured by a martial arts guru. The guru later tells him he has never seen someone use Varma Kalai with such subtlety, he could have paralyzed you forever but he attacked carefully so that you wouldn't die.
Watch : Senapathi in Krishnaswamy's custody
When Senapathi is in Krishnaswamy's custody, Krishnaswamy tells him "What you did is right but the path you chose is wrong. As a human being I have lot of respect for you but as an IPS Officer I have to treat you like a criminal, its my duty". Shankar has neatly sketched Krishnaswamy as a powerful individual without vilifying him.
The same cannot be said for 2.0, without giving any neutral shade Shankar comfortably chose to vilify Pakshirajan. The disadvantage Shankar has in Indian 2 is he cannot use grandeur to hide the flaws in his script. I've said it enough times but Sujatha Rangarajan was the backbone of Shankar, none of Shankar's current writers can fill the void.
I'm waiting to see Senapathi back on screen in 2020 but I'm still worried about Kamal Haasan's disinterest in films and Shankar's recent track record.
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