[doctorzlo]

Early to late 80s he was impressive. Thoroughly entertaining.

kAkki sattai is eminently watchable. Just before ingAri sarakku, he enters Y.Vijaya's 'bar' and doesn't know how much drink to order: "oru litre kudu"

SingAri sarakku and nAdha vinOdhangaL were in the same year. Nothing defines his career better than that.

SingAri is thoroughly enjoyable but Nadha VinodhangaL was watched because it was Kamal. i.e. he led us to watch it. Well atleast me. I am not into classical dance . But he did make Salangai Oli and the pieces in NN, Ek Duje...exciting to watch. That is, to me, what Kamal is all about.

To quote his own words
அன்னிக்கே சொன்னாங்கொ பெரியவங்க ஆழமா சொன்னாங்கோ
அத்தையே அண்ணாத்தே தண்ணி ஊத்தி லைட்டா சொன்னாரு

That's what he did when he settled down on the writing table. Our appreciation of films in general was raised by what he did when he settled down to write.

I don't think I can say that about any - that's right any - other writer in TFI.

[radikal]

Plum, marupadiyum campaign-a? Yerkanave pala campaign panni, deposit tolaichu, talaiyila mundu poottuthaan ingga Hub-la alayireen, neengga veera....

Anyway, correction in that post, its Hare Radha Hare Krishna.

I must say that I am opposite of you, Plum. It was late 80s when I started liking Rajini. So, During that massive masala phase, Rajini totally didn't interest me. His fighting felt odd, as opposed to Jackie Chan-esque grace Kamal had. Rajini's dancing was atrocious (appo, ippo rasikalaam) while Kamal had it pat, what do you want? Classic? Kucchupudi? folk? Disco? He has it, and he can do that in one film...oh fudge it, he can do it in one song!!! I still get goosebumps watching Singgari Sarakku or Varuthu Varuthu. There were cheese in those fat masalaic features, but they sure were delicious.

Fair enough, enakkum dance-kkum 8000 miles dissans. I just cant appreciate dance - and this gives me a clue what people primarily digged then, and I couldnt. Good, purpose of thread is being served. mElum sollunga - hmm..apram...

[Drugmachine]

Plum I would put it as late 80's and early nineties

from nayagan to avvai shanmugi.

Or early nineties only - Guna,Michael madhana kama rajan,thevar magan,mahanadhi,sathi leelavathi,indian,avvai shanmugi,kurudhipunal,magalir mattum(as a producer),singaravelan...

[Beerinkol]

I supp kamalhassan was best during his 70z (early and mid and late 70z) when his acting talent was show-cased well.

I would also like to vote for kamalhassan the writer director legend.

Since I cant vote twice, I hold back my vote.

[tgs]

Well, there is already a golden jubilee thread, and so many discussions going on. I thought it relevant to open a thread where I'd like to understand different perspectives from people. This is a carry-over from Baradwaj Rangan's space, where an interesting discussion went on with that 'cool 80's' thing. I have been intrigued, too, why Rangan would highlight that aspect as part of his jubilee article.
So, here's a question, and a poll, which ensures a few pages of participation atleast

So, which do you think has been the best phase/aspect of Kamal.
1) Child Artiste - Kannamma to kANikkai
2) Young tyro - aimless entry phase from pattampoochi to pre-KB bit roles
3) Young genius - KB 70's movies, 16V, and the phenomenal phase where he established himself as an actor of substance - say, up to Saagara Sangamam
4) Masala man - this phase, which I abhor the most, overalps partly with (3), the Sagala Kala vallavan to Per sollum piLLai(my friend from BR's blogspace calls it saakkada kala vallavan to per kedutha pillai!) - I suspect Bala will have a lot to say on the merits of this phase
5) The colossus, the legend - post Apoorva SagodharargaL - the writer-director-ghostdirector phase
6) The balancer - the low-budget comedy, and the light movies post 90's

[Big A]

First of all, Pudhu thread podalaama?ok-va?

Anyway, i voted for (5) Colossus, post-Aboorva (inclusive)

[LottiFurmann]

4) Masala man - this phase, which I abhor the most, overalps partly with (3), the Sagala Kala vallavan to Per sollum piLLai(my friend from BR's blogspace calls it saakkada kala vallavan to per kedutha pillai!) - I suspect Bala will have a lot to say on the merits of this phase

6) The balancer - the low-budget comedy, and the light movies post 90's

Ennanga, mutual fund range la solreenga
By the by, post 90s was not all comedies and light movies illaya?

[Drugmachine]

Vivs, Nayagan to Avvai Shanmughi-nu paarthA, per sollum piLLai ellAm nadula varum. Thats why I divided it the way I divided it.
There seems to be an evolution-devolution pattern, and the goal is to explore what made him make those choices. Why go from acknowledged super actor of 70's to masala superstar of 80's? What made him finally do Apoorva SagodharargaL and turn over a new phase where he was in control of distributing his talent effectively?

I'd wnat to know more from people like CR on how mandram activities were like in the 80's, the fanzine articles, what was the impact of fan clubs in choices like Uyarndha ULLam, was he confused then what path to take etc?

[doctorzlo]

Originally Posted by Plum 4) Masala man - this phase, which I abhor the most, overalps partly with (3), the Sagala Kala vallavan to Per sollum piLLai(my friend from BR's blogspace calls it saakkada kala vallavan to per kedutha pillai!) - I suspect Bala will have a lot to say on the merits of this phase

6) The balancer - the low-budget comedy, and the light movies post 90's

Ennanga, mutual fund range la solreenga
By the by, post 90s was not all comedies and light movies illaya? Adhaan bala, 90's a rendA pirichu, option 5 & 6-nu koduthirukkAen. I suspect a few youngsters(like sarna) will opt for 6

[Beerinkol]

First of all, Pudhu thread podalaama?ok-va?

Anyway, i voted for (5) Colossus, post-Aboorva (inclusive)

Me also, and I think we can get Prabhu Ram to campaign for this option, too

There should probably be another for the worst phase, and I will choose the masala man phase. Lost a few years worth of writing there.

[Beerinkol]

Plum,
My choice would be the mid 80's onwards phase when Sagara.....,Swathi....,Nayakan,Pushpak,AS,MMKR,Gun a,TM,Mahanadhi followed on after another.

2000 onwards has been a bit of concern with just a Hey Ram,Anbe Shivam and Virumaandi to talk about.

[MannoFr]

cinefan, I differentiate nayagan and KV movies from Mahanadhi, AS etc - because in the former, phenomenal as his input is, he is an actor for hire, and they are primarily someone else's movies. AS, MMKR, Gunaa, Mahanadhi, Hey Ram, Virumandi, Anbe Shivam, Devar Magan are all his writer-director phase. Full control with him.

Hence, I am asking you to choose between the 2 - the Kamal of Nayagan and KV movies versus the post-AS Kamal of Kamal movies

[Lillie_Steins]

Some issues with poll choices...ippo pEsa nEram illai...Anyway voted for 5....Colossus

[HedgeYourBets]

While his work as the writer for his film got him some of the best moments in his career as an actor...I must add that without that Masala period I would never have been a fan in the first place.

TTT started the ball rolling and we were obsessed, my brothers and I. We even lapped up Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Kathal Parisu and even the dubbed Vratham (Daisy?). Forget lapping, we even gobbled up Per Sollum Pillai (Plum )

Kakichattai and Vikram was heaven sent for us. So, I gotta be honest and appreciate that era. Sure, he was unstoppable after Nayagan, but those era created many fans.

[tgs]

grouch, idhai thaan naan edhirparthaen. Write more on how/why you appreciated that phase. That phase left me untouched - and remember here my acknowledged past as a Rajni-masala-of-80's fan - and I want to really dig what made him tick those days, because tick he most certainly did in that phase.

Padikkadhavan, Thambikku Endha Ooru etc- in that phase as a masala man, to me, Rajni beat Kamal. Manidhan, MaappiLLai and Apoorva SagodharargaL couldnt have happened at a more opportune time in my life - they were the triggers that moved me away from Rajni and towards Kamal

[HedgeYourBets]

Some issues with poll choices...ippo pEsa nEram illai...Anyway voted for 5....Colossus

adhellAM pEsi thIrthukkalAm, idhukkAga campaign boycott panniradhInga!

[Raj_Copi_Jin]

I supp kamalhassan was best during his 70z (early and mid and late 70z) when his acting talent was show-cased well.

I would also like to vote for kamalhassan the writer director legend.

Since I cant vote twice, I hold back my vote.

nInga ipdi solvIngannu expect paNNi dhAn, 70's option pOttEn. Writer director legendku neraiya pEru vote pOduvanga, nInga 70's-kE pOttudunga!

[tgs]

Plum, marupadiyum campaign-a? Yerkanave pala campaign panni, deposit tolaichu, talaiyila mundu poottuthaan ingga Hub-la alayireen, neengga veera....

Anyway, correction in that post, its Hare Radha Hare Krishna.

I must say that I am opposite of you, Plum. It was late 80s when I started liking Rajini. So, During that massive masala phase, Rajini totally didn't interest me. His fighting felt odd, as opposed to Jackie Chan-esque grace Kamal had. Rajini's dancing was atrocious (appo, ippo rasikalaam) while Kamal had it pat, what do you want? Classic? Kucchupudi? folk? Disco? He has it, and he can do that in one film...oh fudge it, he can do it in one song!!! I still get goosebumps watching Singgari Sarakku or Varuthu Varuthu. There were cheese in those fat masalaic features, but they sure were delicious.

[brraverishhh]

Poll listing looks a bit kuzhaRupadi - so unable to decide.

In terms of his career - I always have this feeling of Pre Naayagan and Post Naayagan.

[Ifroham4]

Originally Posted by Shakthiprabha I supp kamalhassan was best during his 70z (early and mid and late 70z) when his acting talent was show-cased well.

I would also like to vote for kamalhassan the writer director legend.

Since I cant vote twice, I hold back my vote.

nInga ipdi solvIngannu expect paNNi dhAn, 70's option pOttEn. Writer director legendku neraiya pEru vote pOduvanga, nInga 70's-kE pOttudunga! aana enakku writer and director pudikkumE
I feel his writer-director ability is very creative, unique, poetic I wont be doing justice if I dont vote for it. I wont be doing justice if I vote too. (cause I simply love the way he bloomed as an actor)