Revisiting Kamal Haasan’s brilliant transformation for his character Appu in ‘Aboorva Sagodharargal’

Kamal Haasan’s name echoes through decades of Indian cinema as a performer who never settles for the ordinary. From powerful dramas like Nayakan to experimental storytelling in Indian and Pushpak, he has constantly pushed the boundaries of screen acting. Among his most unforgettable performances is Aboorva Sagodharargal (1989), where he stunned audiences by playing a dwarf named Appu.

How the spark ignited

The idea first struck Kamal after watching Charlie Chaplin pull off a brilliant illusion that made his legs appear shortened. Kamal believed that illusion could evolve into an entire film concept, not just a brief gag.




As always, he turned to his mentor, K. Balachander, who had shaped many of his artistic instincts. However, this time, the response was both humorous and skeptical.

While speaking at 10x: Leadership in Innovation at Google, Kamal recalled, “I take all my ideas to KB (director K. Balachander) first, who then chisels them. I took this idea of playing a short man, and he asked me, ‘What are you eating these days? I can’t even think of the mind-boggling complications that will come out of it.’ He also said, ‘I’ll write one scene for you where you can play a short man and get done with it.’”

However, Kamal’s conviction remained firm. When he couldn’t convince his mentor, he decided to take on the project himself.

He added, “I told my team I know how to make the dwarf work. But honestly, I knew only two tricks — and you can’t pull off an entire film with just that. I was just so excited that I knew those tricks and wanted to use them as part of the film. It was the biggest con game I pulled on my own crew.”

About ‘Aboorva Sagodharargal’

Directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, the film tells the story of twins — Appu and Raja — who are separated during childhood. While Raja grows up to become a car mechanic, Appu becomes a dwarf circus clown. Along with Kamal Haasan, the film also stars Nagesh, Gautami, Rupini, Jaishankar, Moulee, and Nassar.

On the work front

Kamal Haasan was last seen in Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam. The film also stars Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Abhirami, Ashok Selvan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Ali Fazal, and Sanjana Krishnamoorthy.