Kamal Haasan Hails Singeetam: Terms Age As Just a Number

Veteran actor Kamal Haasan expressed his happiness at being part of the pre-release event of his mentor and legendary filmmaker Singeetam Srinivasa Rao's upcoming film, Sing Geetham.

Recalling their early association, Kamal Haasan said, "Our first interaction to make a film happened during a dinner conversation, where he narrated two stories to me. One was Advaitham, and the other was the story that has now become Sing Geetham. I first heard this story when I was 20 years old, and now, at 71, I am delighted to see it finally reaching the big screen."

Reflecting on their collaboration in the classic film Pushpaka Vimana (Pushpak), Kamal noted that the film was made on a modest budget of ₹15 lakh because they strongly believed in cost-effective filmmaking. "I thoroughly enjoyed shooting the film because it had no dialogue, and we were working in a pleasant atmosphere at a star hotel. We made it for ₹15 lakh, and if you consider its legacy over the past forty years, it would have easily generated returns equivalent to ₹200 crore today," he said.

Kamal also shared a light-hearted anecdote about the director's name. "Whenever people called him 'Sangeetham,' he would immediately correct them and insist that it should be pronounced 'Singeetam,'" he said with a laugh.

Praising his mentor's creativity, Kamal remarked that Singeetam has been filled with innovative story ideas throughout his life and continues to remain youthful in spirit. "Age is just a number for him. His enthusiasm, confidence, and constant smile are truly inspiring," he added.

Taking a subtle dig at the current trend of judging films primarily by their budgets, Kamal said that the true value of cinema lies in passion and creativity rather than production costs. "I am thankful to Ashwini Dutt and Nag Ashwin for supporting passionate cinema. Great stories are timeless and can remain relevant across generations," he said.

Kamal described Singeetam as a filmmaker who continues to engage with younger generations. "The fact that he is taking on Gen Z audiences shows his remarkable spirit and attitude. We have shared a journey spanning decades, and I will always cherish those memories," he said.

Speaking about the unpredictability of filmmaking, Kamal observed that no one can guarantee the success or failure of a movie.

"We cannot sign a promissory note declaring that a film will definitely work. That is the nature of creative work. Ultimately, the audience decides its fate," he said. He further noted that every film begins with great enthusiasm, but if it fails, people often start blaming one another, whereas success leads everyone to share the credit and awards.

"Both of us were always prepared to accept responsibility if a film did not work. We remained committed to that principle," Kamal concluded.