What exactly is Kamal doing? From 2000s, I am happy with the movies he's done - Alavandhan (creative genius), Virumandi (Screenplay,Direction genius) Anbe Sivam (everything genius), Dasavatharam (commercial+quality=Genius), Hey Ram (India's best movie simply because nobody could have done it) and excluding several comedy films that set the theaters rolling in laughter. Among the list above, except Anbe Sivam, other films did have the regular complaint from movie-goers - can't understand the film. To think of the movies Aamir did and which were raved all across India and also in international theaters is this - Great concept/theme + "Simplicity". To think Lagaan's story would qualify for Oscars (forget Slumdog - it was an UK director), is a dream. I have a feeling Kamal is bored about the "Simple films". I think he feels, and rightly so, he's so capable of doing a film like Fire, Earth, (Watch the films - internationally raved, but very very simple films and I wonder, that's the reason international viewers loved it) Lagaan, that it doesn't challenge him and avoids it. After Robot, Kamal may be tempted to react with another extravaganza and commercial package for a fit reply. And, it is exactly what I don't want him to do (except if it's Marudhunayagam).

I want Kamal hassan to venture into direction. To put it blunt, quit main-stream acting soon (1-2 yrs). I would like Kamal to think about becoming a full-time director and start writing stories now (ya, I really wish its possible) while he does movies as hero in next 2-3 years.

For next 2-3 years, I would like Kamal to do some comic capers and films like "Ganesh Vasanth - Sujatha's detective stories", which wouldn't need much homework, wait, because script-plot-character all are written and only need to be edited to fit for a film, something Kamal can do it easily. After 2-3 years, I want Kamal to play a important-role - like Sivaji in Devar Magan and quality character roles 1-2 films a year (remember Sathi Leelavathy?) while he also becomes an active director. After 3 yrs, I would want Kamal to direct 1 film in 1.5 yrs atleast. "Peepli Live" is a film Kamal could've directed and given Indian film, a genre of film, not attempted in Indian cinema. Who would say "No" to Kamal - the director especially his stories. Kamal should direct actors like Surya, Vikram who are top actors and give them the challenging roles to perform. Thereby improving talents and making Tamil cinema richer - something, he's already doing by his films and just his presence in Tamil cinema. Kamal, don't fall for the wrong temptations. Wake up! Rethink!

Thanks & Regards,
Madhusudan Venkataraman
imemadhu@gmail.com