Haasan won the Rashtrapati Award (President's gold medal) for his performance in "Kalathur Kannamma" at age four and starred in five more films as a child. He debuted in the Malayalam film industry with "Kannum Karalum" (1962). Upon his father's encouragement, he joined a repertory company (T. K. S. Nataka Sabha) headed by T. K. Shanmugam. In the meanwhile, he continued his education at the Hindu Higher Secondary School in Triplicane. His time with the theatre company shaped Haasan's craft and kindled his interest in makeup.