From Vikram to Thevar Magan: Revisiting Kamal Haasan’s biggest box office hits on his birthday

Kamal Haasan, one of Tamil cinema’s biggest names, turned 70 today (November 7). The veteran actor, who began his career as a child artiste with the Gemini Ganesan-led Kalathur Kannamma (1960), has been a source of inspiration for fans for nearly six decades. During his illustrious career, he has given the audience food for thought with skillfully crafted films such as Thevar Magan and Hey Ram and proved that he is a performer par excellence.?

His films don’t always cater to the masses as he prioritises ‘art’ over ‘business’. Despite this, they have often done well at the box office and added to his popularity. Here is a look at some of Kamal Haasan’s biggest hits.?

Vikram (2022)

Vikram helped Kamal Haasan score a much-needed hit after a series of commercially-unsuccessful releases. The action-thriller was shot on a budget of Rs 120 crore and it collected Rs 500 crore globally to emerge as a blockbuster.?

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film centred on a secret agent’s fight against the drug mafia. Its cast also included Fahadh Faasil, Vijay Sethupathi, and Suriya. Vikram is a part of the Loki Cinematic Universe (LCU), which includes Karthi’s Kaithi and the Thalapathy Vijay-led Leo.?

Papanasam (2015)

The Jeethu Joseph-directed thriller, shot on a modest budget of Rs 30 crore, grossed Rs 100 crore worldwide and exceeded all expectations at the box office. A remake of the Mohanlal-led Drishyam, the film revolved around a “common man” who outsmarts the police to protect his family after his daughter accidentally murders a cop’s son.?

Papanasam also received rave reviews with critics praising the superb performances and engaging screenplay.?

Vasool Raja MBBS (2004)

Vasool Raja MBBS, a well-received comedy drama, emerged as the top choice of the family audience when it hit the screens in 2004. This helped it set the box office on fire and emerge as a commercial success. Shot on a budget of nearly Rs 5 crore, the Tamil remake of Sanjay Dutt’s Munnabhai MBBS collected Rs 18 crore in Tamil Nadu.

Indian (1996)

Widely regarded as one of the finest films of the 90s, Indian featured Kamal Haasan in the role of an aged vigilante who decides to eliminate corruption and it gave him the opportunity to woo the masses.?

The Shankar-directed film was shot on a budget of Rs 15 crore and grossed nearly Rs 64 crore globally during its theatrical run. Indian 2, a sequel to the evergreen classic, hit the screens earlier this year but it proved to be a commercial failure. Indian 3, the third installment of the franchise, is set to release sometime next year.?

Thevar Magan (1992)

Thevar Magan was a rare cinematic gem that found commercial and critical success in equal measure. The film ran in the theatres for nearly 175 days despite releasing alongside Rajinikanth’s Pandian .However, no details about its budget and box office collection are available online. It also received rave reviews for its hard-hitting yet sensitive storyline and intense performances. Thevar Magan was later remade in Hindi as Viraasat with Anil Kapoor in the lead.?