The 61-year-old actor-filmmaker has just been conferred with the prestigious Chevalier de L' Ordre Arts et Letters
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 22, 2016)

Kamal Haasan will be awarded the Chevalier de L'Ordre Arts et Lettres (The Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French government at a special ceremony. The Order is part of France's premier award, the Legion of Honor. It has three ranks - Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer), Commandeur (Commander) - and two high offices. It recognises eminent artistes and writers, as well as those who have contributed significantly to furthering the arts in France and throughout the world.

Other Indians honoured include Sivaji Ganesan (1995), Nandita Das (2008), Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan (2012) and Anurag Kashyap (2013). Notable recipients from across the world include filmmakers Aleksander Petrovic (1969), David Niles (1984) and Ang Lee (2012) and actors Uma Thurman (2006), Jude Law (2007), George Clooney (2007) and Cate Blanchett (2012). "I'm proud to be in the company of more deserving forerunners like Satyajit Ray (Legion of Honor) and Sivaji Ganesan (Chevalier). Also, the others, with or without an award. Shah Rukh (Officier) is a friend, so is Anurag. It's a pity Aishwaryaji and I haven't done a film together yet. She was supposed to be in Hindustani but the dates did not work out," he told Mirror speaking from his Chennai home.

The 61-year-old actor-filmmaker pointed out that the award is special because historically the French have been forerunners in politics, arts and equality, among many more. "I dedicate this award to my admirers who gave me the tenacity of purpose to pursue this day and moment, my Arts and Letters," he asserted. "It humbles me rather than stiffen me with pride."

He remembered his teachers and admirers who with "motherly care have applauded my every little step forward". And while he was melancholy that his parents were not alive to see this day, he was happy that the elders and the youngsters of his family are around to enjoy it.

"My brother and partner Charuhasan, who's not given to hyperbole, was really happy and proud when he called. Gautami, Shruti and Subbu (Subbalakshmi) were also happy. My sister (Nalini Raghu) who's always to the point said, 'Nice crutch.' She was perhaps punning on the phrase 'break a leg' used among artisties. Also, it was her way of telling me to use it as a crutch and not flaunt it with pride like a crown. Cheval in French means horse," he laughed. Does he speak French, you wonder, and he admits he's illiterate in most languages till he acts in them but admits that it's time to learn French.

He also reveals that he is nervous and lazy about writing speeches. "But occasions like this don't deserve an extempore speech. Let me enjoy the moment and postpone thinking of the speech closer to the occasion," he said.

Earlier in March, he was honoured with the Henri Langlois Award for his contribution to Indian cinema.
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Kamal Haasan on being chosen for France's premier honour
MID-DAY (August 22, 2016)

"I bow before my more deserving forerunners, Satyajit Ray and Sivaji Ganesan, who made even the common man realise the value of the Chevalier award", says Kamal Haasan as hitlist got in touch with him yesterday to congratulate him on being chosen for the coveted French honour.

The veteran actor-filmmaker will be bestowed with the Chevalier de L'Ordre Arts et Lettres (The Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters), an award given in recognition of significant contribution in art, literature or the propagation of these fields.

He says, "I thank the ambassador for France in India, Alexandre Ziegler, who informed me about the award. It humbles me, rather than stiffen me with pride. Teachers and admirers around me are abundant. With motherly care, they have applauded my every little step forward."

Haasan adds that he misses his parents, but is grateful that he can share his joy with the elders and youngsters in my family. "I dedicate this award to my admirers and audience who gave me the tenacity of purpose to pursue this day and moment, my arts and letters," he says.

He is currently shooting for trilingual comedy, 'Sabash Naidu' (Tamil, Telugu and Hindi), which stars elder daughter, Shruti. The actor, who suffered a fracture recently, had a shooting stint in the US. The film's team will head to Vishakapatnam next month.

Kamal Haasan will next be seen in the sequel to his 2013 thriller, 'Vishwaroopam'.

Been there, bagged that
Other Indian actors who have received the honour include Sivaji Ganesan, Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai  Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan.