His family announced that his mortal remains would be kept at his residence, “High Command” in Besant Nagar, Chennai, for final respects. The last rites will be performed at Royapettah Ameerunisa Burial Ground at 4 PM.
Life and Career of Shihan Hussaini
Shihan Hussaini was the founder and general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Archery Association (TAAT). He played a vital role in establishing archery as a prestigious sport in the state.
His acting career began in 1986 with Kamal Haasan’s movie ‘Punnagai Mannan’. He went on to act in several Tamil films, including:
🎬 Rajinikanth’s ‘Velaikaran’ (1987)
🎬 Vijay’s ‘Badri’ (2001)
🎬 Vijay Sethupathi’s ‘Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal’ (2022)
Controversial Stunts and Sensational Acts
Shihan Hussaini was widely known for his extreme devotion and dangerous stunts, which often made headlines.
🔴 2015: Self-Crucifixion – He nailed his hands and feet to a 300 kg wooden cross as a plea for former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s return to power.
🩸 2005: Painted 56 portraits with his own blood – To mark Jayalalithaa’s 56th birthday, he created 56 paintings using his own blood.
🩸 2013: Frozen blood bust – He sculpted a bust of Jayalalithaa using 11 liters of blood, including his own.
🔥 Set himself on fire with 140 liters of petrol – To showcase his endurance, he lit himself on fire.
🚗 Allowed 101 cars to drive over his right hand, then broke 5,000 tiles and 1,000 bricks.
🐍 Survived venomous cobra bites as part of a stunt.
Even Jayalalithaa herself advised him to stop performing such extreme acts after his crucifixion stunt.
False Accusations and Jail Time
In the 1980s, Hussaini was falsely accused of being a Sri Lankan terrorist and was jailed for 10 days in Tihar Jail. He later turned this experience into an art exhibition called ‘Tihar Return Hussaini’.
Decision to Donate His Body
A few days before his death, Hussaini announced his decision to donate his body for medical research. He wanted his body to be handed over to Sri Ramachandra Medical College as a tribute to its founder, Ramasamy Udayar, who had supported his karate association.
Tributes and Final Journey
The archery and karate communities were urged to pay their respects by attending in their respective uniforms.
Tamil Nadu Archery Association spokesperson Ashwin Kumar Iyer said:
“With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of our founding father, Shihan Hussaini. His contributions to archery and sports will be remembered forever.”
Conclusion
Shihan Hussaini was not just an actor or a karate trainer; he was a man who lived life on his own terms. His sensational stunts, political devotion, and commitment to sports made him an unforgettable figure. His name will always be remembered in the history of Tamil Nadu’s sports and cinema
