Why Kamal Haasan disowned ‘Ulaganayagan’ title: A look at its origins and legacy
Kamal Haasan could have quietly accepted the honorary title ‘Ulaganayagan’ cherished by millions. Instead, he felt compelled to distance himself from it publicly, shedding a label that has defined him for decades.
Kamal Haasan's iconic title card.
Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan surprised everyone on Monday by relinquishing the title of ‘Ulaganayagan,’ or Universal Hero. Although he didn’t need to disown the honorary title publicly—one that fans affectionately use to celebrate him—Kamal felt compelled to take this step, shedding a label that had come to define his very essence.
‘Ulaganayagan’ was a fitting title for Kamal, whether he embraced it or not. His love for the Tamil language is unquestionable, yet he never confined himself to a single identity. Kamal used Tamil cinema as a launchpad for a boundless artistic journey, carrying his Tamil roots with pride while embracing languages, cultures, and traditions from around the world. Early in his career, he transcended linguistic boundaries with his performance in Pushpaka Vimana (1987), a silent film that entertained without a single spoken word. That movie was truly pan-world—it could be enjoyed by audiences in Bihar, China, or Mexico without any subtitles. Doesn’t that make him a universal hero?
Yet Kamal chose to disown the title. Why? Because he never truly liked it. The title 'Ulaganayagan' was initially coined by one of his most ardent fans, director KS Ravikumar, and it quickly resonated with his fanbase, sticking with him for nearly 25 years.
Ravikumar has shared the story of how this now-iconic introduction title card came to be. During post-production on Thenali, while Kamal was already working on Aalavandhan, Ravikumar had an idea. He brought a cameraman to the Aalavandhan set and took a close-up shot of Kamal, zooming in on his eyes, even as Kamal—who had shaved for his new role—reluctantly obliged. In post-production, Ravikumar and his VFX team created a dramatic title sequence beginning with a satellite shot of Kamal’s Alwarpet house. The shot zooms out to encompass the whole globe, which ultimately morphs into the pupil of Kamal’s eye, followed by a blink. And with that wink, ‘Ulaganayagan’ was born.
Kamal Haasan in Pushpaka Vimana
"Kamal was reluctant and asked me not to give any title. As I insisted, he gave up and let me do my thing," Ravikumar recalled.
Since Thenali, that title card has been a celebratory moment for Kamal's fans for more than 20 years. Even director Lokesh Kanagaraj paid tribute to it in his collaboration with Kamal in Vikram. But now, with Kamal disowning the title, one question remains: Will his fans, as adamant as Ravikumar, respect Kamal’s wish to shed the label of Ulaganayagan? It seems unlikely; for millions, he’ll always be their Universal Hero.
Updated: November 12, 2024 12:25 PM IST
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