Actor Kamal Haasan Chosen for France’s Chevalier Award

Chennai: Actor-Filmmaker Kamal Haasan is all set to be Awarded the Chevalier de L’Ordre Arts et Letters (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French government, as part of France’s premiere award.

“The distinction, which is yet another laurel for the actor, is in recognition of his high level of artistic excellence and his distinguished career achievements. The award will be conferred on Kamal Haasan at a special ceremony,” read a statement from Haasan.
The award is presented “to recognize eminent artists and writers, as well as people who have contributed significantly to furthering the arts in France and throughout the world.”

Other Indian recipients of the award include late Tamil actor Sivaji Ganeshan, Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Nandita Das and Shah Rukh Khan.

Other Indian recipients of the award include late Tamil actor Sivaji Ganeshan, Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Nandita Das and Shah Rukh Khan.

The award will be conferred on the 61-year-old veteran star at a special ceremony, he added. Haasan is the second Tamil star after thespian Sivaji Ganesan to be honoured with the French award, with the latter being chosen for it in 1995.

The Tamil Cinema industry was all praise for the Vishwaroopam star. Actors Nasser, Karthi and Prasanna, directors KS Ravikumar, Lingusamy and Venkat Prabu among others congratulated him. Having made his debut as a child actor in 1959 in the Gemini Ganesan-starrer Kalathur Kannamma, Haasan rose to become one of the icons of Indian cinema. Hailed as a multi-faceted professional, the actor-filmmaker is known for his penchant for experimenting with different scripts and characters. His roles as an ageing freedom fighter in the movie Indian and a woman in Avvai Shanmugi, besides donning ten diverse roles in the 2008-hit Dasavatharam, have been well received by the movie-goers.

Kamal Haasan

I dedicate this award to my admirers and audience who give me the tenacity of purpose to pursue to this day in moment my arts and letters.

Kamal Haasan on Sunday said he would like to dedicate the Chevalier award de L’Ordre Arts et Letters, conferred by the French government, to his admirers and audience. He also said the honour humbles him.
“I dedicate this award to my admirers and audience who give me the tenacity of purpose to pursue to this day in moment my arts and letters,” Haasan said in an audio message.