Kamal Haasan on his performance and collaboration in Sadma remains a vital chapter in Indian cinema, as he reflects on his impactful role and close creative partnership with director Balu Mahendra that gave the film its iconic ending. In a recent conversation, Kamal Haasan detailed how the synergy between himself, Sridevi, and Balu Mahendra shaped one of the most moving climaxes ever seen on screen.
Kamal Haasan’s Reflections on Sadma’s Legacy
Sadma, starring Kamal Haasan and Sridevi, is celebrated for its heartbreaking climax, where Haasan’s character experiences emotional turmoil after being left behind when Sridevi’s character regains her memory. While Sridevi’s performance drew widespread attention through most of the film, Haasan’s portrayal especially in the final moments has left a deep, lasting impression on audiences.
Kamal Haasan is often praised for this powerful scene, but he is quick to emphasize that the film’s achievements are the result of collective effort, especially highlighting Sridevi and director Balu Mahendra’s contributions. He recounted for IANS,
“You can’t take away a film from a filmmaker like Mani Ratnam or Balu Mahendra. So what he was trying to do is give me a formidable character, and was actually elevating the protagonist. The audience experiences the angst, pain and love of the protagonist. For which you’ll have to build throughout. I think all three of us performed in that film. It’s a compact thing. And Mr. Balu Mahendra did editing, cinematography, writing, all of it. So the crew was very small.”
—Kamal Haasan, Actor
Working with Balu Mahendra and Shared Growth
Haasan’s admiration for Balu Mahendra runs deep, as the two shared a profound working relationship from their early days. Balu Mahendra, an alumnus of FTII Pune, moved to Chennai and brought a new simplicity to filmmaking, influencing generations of filmmakers and actors.
Reflecting on their early collaboration, Kamal Haasan said,
“Balu was one of the earliest guys from FTII, Pune who came to Chennai, and made cinema simple. What you learn from a fellow student is much more than what you can perceive from a great master teacher. Because we were both struggling for what. He was a little older. So it was like walking with an elder brother.”
—Kamal Haasan, Actor
This camaraderie helped the two push cinematic boundaries, with Mahendra’s hands-on involvement in editing, cinematography, and writing, leading to a unique, compact crew dynamic that fostered creative experimentation.
Kamal Haasan’s Philosophy as an Eternal Student of Cinema
Despite building a monumental career since his debut as a child artist at age six, Kamal Haasan continues to see himself as a lifelong learner. His humility and openness to growth set him apart among actors who have matured on camera and in public view. He believes that, especially in times when the film industry evolves rapidly, the thirst to keep learning offers creative longevity and relevance.
He shared his outlook, saying,
“Cinema is improving so fast and so many tools are coming in, the only safest place is to be a student and not start teaching. What we believe, our ideas might be trampled upon but still we have to believe in those ideas because we are keepers of this time and these ideas. We reflect it.”
—Kamal Haasan, Actor
The Enduring Collaboration and Future Projects
The collaborative spirit that shaped Sadma lives on in Kamal Haasan’s career trajectory. His production house, Raaj Kamal Films International, is now joined by Mani Ratnam’s Madras Talkies, R Mahendran, and Siva Ananth for the upcoming film Thug Life, set for a worldwide theatrical release on June 5, 2025. This ongoing partnership reflects his enduring commitment to innovation, teamwork, and exploring new cinematic landscapes.
The story behind Kamal Haasan’s performance and collaboration in Sadma—and the guiding influence of Balu Mahendra—continues to serve as inspiration for artists and audiences. As cinema grows and transformative artists like Haasan and Sridevi set benchmarks, the film’s legacy endures, reminding the next generation of creatives of the value in humility, partnership, and remaining ever-curious students of their craft.
