A real life plot to kidnap my daughters inspired me to write Mahanadi: Kamal Haasan

Mumbai: Recently, superstar Kamal Haasan compiled a list of 70 films that had a major impact in his life for a leading newspaper and, with each movie that was part of his listicle, the National Award winner wrote a personal note describing the reason behind it being so special to him.

In one of his notes, for the 1994 film ‘Mahanadi’, which the veteran wrote himself, he revealed the shocking source of inspiration behind the film: his domestic help plotting to kidnap his daughters for extracting money. He wrote, “I have never spoken of what prompted me to write Mahanadi. Now my daughters are old enough to understand the ways of this world I can… I guess. My household help, all of them, conspired to kidnap my daughter for ransom. They even did a dry run. By accident I discovered their plan. I was angry, unnerved and ready to kill for my baby’s safety. But I saw sense in time. I was to write a new script and I kept delaying it for a month. Later when I sat down to write, the script wrote itself ….maybe assisted by my fear, apprehension and paranoia.”

The film revolved around the life of a man whose family go off track after he gets framed and put behind bars and his daughters are kidnapped and forced into prostitution.

Haasan also said the list is a recommendation list of any sort because different people react different to certain situations. “I’m not trying to recommend movies, or impose my choices on other people. Films are my profession, my life. The way I react to a film will be different from the way other people would. I’m sure I will probably notice nuances other people may not. Finally, it’s like falling in love! Why do you fall in love with someone? Who knows? It’s the same with movies,” he clarified.

Earlier this month, Kamal Haasan’s younger daughter Akshara Haasan had stirred a major controversy on social media when news of her converting to Buddhism started making the rounds. The liberal father that he is, he asked her on Twitter if the news is true.

He tweeted: Hi. Akshu. Have you changed your religeon? Love you, even if you have. Love unlike religeon is unconditional. Enjoy life . Love- Your Bapu

To which, Akshara replied, “Hi bapuji. No, still an atheist. Although i agree with budhism as it is a way of life and in an individuals way of life. Love from your daughter akshu.”