"On this occasion, 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," the 61-year-old actor said in an audio message. "I dedicate this award to my admirers and audience who give me the tenacity of purpose to pursue to this day and moment my arts," he said.
He said the award "humbles me rather than stiffening me with pride." Though there was the "melancholy" of his parents not being alive to "see this day", other elders and youngsters were there in the family to "enjoy it," he added.
The Nadigar Sangam (Artistes' Association) and DMK Treasurer and Opposition Leader in Tamil Nadu Assembly M K Stalin greeted the actor for getting the French award. The award was a "recognition" of the Tamil cinema industry, a sangam release said, adding that actors wanted to felicitate Haasan by conducting a function but said a decision on this would be taken after consulting him.
Stalin hailed Haasan as a "multi-faceted" actor and extended his hearty greetings to him. In a Twitter post, Stalin wished more such awards to the actor "who has come up due to hard work."
Superstar Rajinikanth took to Twitter and congratulated Kamal. He tweeted in Tamil. The English translation goes as, "Heartfelt congrats to the Nadigar Thilagam (Sivaji Ganesan) of our generation KH on winning this prestigious award."
Over his five-decade acting career, Kamal has won three National Awards for Best Actor and the President's Gold Medal for the Best Child Artist for the film Kalathur Kannamma (1960). The Indian government also awarded Kamal the Padma Bhushan in 2014.
Other Indians who have been an awardee of the Chevalier Order include actors Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Nandita Das, Shah Rukh Khan and Sivaji Ganesan.
