Kamal Haasan interview: On ‘Thug Life’, AI in cinema and his unrealised tasks

In October 2024, in the course of the promotional actions of Sivakarthikeyan-Sai Pallavi-starrer Amaran at Chennai’s Raajkamal Movies Worldwide (RKFI) workplace, the particular person lacking from the thick of issues was none aside from the movie’s producer: Kamal Haasan.

“Avar US ku padikka poitaar (He has gone to the US to review),” mentioned somebody at his workplace, referring to the actor’s determination to take off to the US of America to review synthetic intelligence.

At 70, with a number of awards and movies in a number of languages to his credit score, Kamal Haasan is perhaps extensively considered among the finest actors within the nation. He, nonetheless, nonetheless considers himself a “pupil”, which prompted his determination to put aside time to review synthetic intelligence, interested by its use in his area of labor.

“We’re all half luddites. That’s our downside,” says the actor, “That’s why I’ve the naivety to say that I need to be taught AI. They stored asking me what precisely I need to be taught – which is once I realised there are such a lot of verticals within the movie trade itself.”

Kamal vouches to continue to learn extra – which, he hopes, will assist him streamline his present movie assignments and doubtless assist in executing his dream tasks. “We’re nonetheless not good with scheduling and budgeting. We aren’t good with compartmentalising and delegating. AI will take away the chore within the job and the pondering particular person inside you has a greater likelihood,” he says.

Within the US, Kamal Haasan visited the Perplexity AI headquarters, interacting extensively with its CEO, Aravind Srinivas. He additionally attended NAB 2025 in Las Vegas, which showcased how AI applied sciences may improve storytelling and streamline manufacturing processes. “I’ve by no means studied in a classroom, so my examine continues,” he tells us.

It did – on the units of his upcoming movie, Thug Life, as properly. The movie marks the approaching collectively of Kamal Haasan and ace director Mani Ratnam after three a long time; their final outing was Nayakan (1987), one among Tamil cinema’s largest classics. “Each of us have developed since then,” he says, “He (Mani Ratnam) modified the panorama of Tamil cinema, which influenced filmmaking throughout India. I consider that the extra ethnic you change into, the extra worldwide you change into – it is a quote that Singeetam Srinivasa Rao (director-screenwriter) is sort of keen on, and I picked it up from him.”

Kamal might be referring to the globe-trotting motion drama in Thug Life, during which he performs a gangster named Rangaraya Sakthivel, prompting followers to debate a attainable Nayakan hyperlink to the present movie (Kamal’s title within the 1987 movie was Sakthivel ‘Velu’ Naicker). “Thug Life will make you overlook Nayakan. In any other case, we aren’t doing our jobs properly. Perhaps chronologically you’ll be able to say Nayakan and Thug Life, however out of appreciation, it needs to be the opposite approach spherical,” says Kamal.

‘Thug Life’ marks Kamal Haasan working with Mani Ratnam after three a long time
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

He describes the movie as an “extension of his life”. “I’ve been each; I’ve lived a life and have been a thug in my teenagers. The kinetic power will push you to do improper issues while you’re younger…most individuals in school do it. I’ve by no means been to varsity, so I may need simply been a cruder thug. I’m not pleased with it, although.”

Thug Life has music by AR Rahman, whose music is sort of completely different from Ilaiyaraaja, Kamal Haasan’s collaborator for a very long time. What was the distinction? “With Ilaiyaraaja’s songs, I used to be instantly capable of say, ‘Oh sure, I like this.’ However it was completely different with Rahman. I keep in mind listening to ‘Kappaleri Poyachu’ from Indian (1996)for the primary time. I simply shrugged, as a result of it was simply him singing with a beatbox. However once I noticed the ultimate model of the tune, ending with ‘Saare Jahaan Se Acha’… it blew my thoughts,” remembers Kamal, who believes that his music needs to be labeled as ‘gradual nectar’ than ‘gradual poison’.

Debuting as a baby actor in Kalathur Kannama (1960) when he was simply 5, Kamal Haasan has acted with generations of actors – from the late thespian Sivaji Ganesan to Silambarasan. Contemplating his huge expertise in entrance of the digital camera, did he give his Thug Life co-stars Silambarasan, Ashok Selvan and Trisha an appearing tip or two? “My guru was Ok Balachander (late director), however he didn’t train me. He gave me a possibility and in dialog, I picked up abilities. That’s the way it needs to be carried out.”

Whereas the actor’s upcoming roster suggests extra adrenaline-pumping moments – he has a movie with stunt masters-turned-directors Anbariv scheduled subsequent – there’s additionally a rising clamour amongst followers for Kamal to return to the comedy style, for which he efficiently teamed up with the late comedian-writer Loopy Mohan on many movies, like Avvai Shanmughi and Panchathanthiram, amongst others. “I don’t miss him, as a result of he has left a variety of him in me. With out work, we spoke with one another on daily basis about all the pieces beneath the solar, together with ideologies, puranas and yayatis,” remembers Kamal Haasan.

So, will a comedy topic floor someday quickly? “Humour is just not quick meals. You have to add so many condiments and serve,” he says.

Kamal Haasan in ‘Thug Life’
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

Submit Thug Life, the promotions of that are protecting him busy for the time being, Kamal Haasan will transfer on to different tasks. Aside from his instant movie commitments, the actor-director additionally needs to discover methods to execute his unrealised tasks, equivalent to Marmayogi, Sabaash Naidu and Marudhunayagam.

Malayalam actor Joju George just lately talked about that Kamal Haasan’s iPad has greater than 400 scripts, one thing that the Thug Life actor smilingly dismisses as an ‘exaggeration’. “I may need round 30. And a few extra, which aren’t but accomplished,” he reveals, “There’s one mendacity with me titled Suryadhaagam, which revolves round a longtime Godman and his ascent right into a residing God. It’s a bit like Caligula (Roman Emperor), who didn’t die a great demise. My story doesn’t do into that, however it talks concerning the morbidity of man’s hubris.”

Revealed – Could 26, 2025 05:28 pm IST