The different faces of Kamal Haasan

During the shoot of a recreated version of the famous “Big Boss” show, actor turned-television- anchor Mr.Kamal Haasan gave a clarion call and urged the citizens of Tamil Nadu to vote and make a difference to the society. Just rewind to 28th April 2016, the high volatile Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, Mr.Kamal Haasan, in a press interview during the launch of his new trilingual film Sabaash Naidu, told that he will be in the United States a couple of days before 16th May (the voting day) and might not be able to vote. “I will be starting work in Los Angeles for my film, and I will be there on the voting day,” he said when asked if he would be voting. He alleged his name was missing from the voters’ list.  His actual intention was to continue his shoot in the USA, and the Chief Election Commissioner exposed him and rubbished Mr.Haasan’s false allegations. Reacting to Mr.Haasan’s comments, Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni immediately circulated a photograph of a voters’ list featuring the actor’s name. The official Twitter handle of the poll panel even sent out a tweet urging him to vote as he is considered a role model by all. Mr.Haasan had no option but to stay back for voting after cutting a sorry figure for lying to the Chief Electoral Officer. This was not the first time and certainly not the last when his hypocrisy was on display.

During 2011 Local Body Elections, Mr.Haasan did not cast his vote in Chennai because he was busy in a shoot for his controversial movie Vishwaroopam. During 2014 Parliament Elections again, Mr.Haasan did not cast his vote and alleged his vote was polled by someone else. He never bothered to fight back & exercise his democratic right, obviously, because his allegation was a lie. This is Mr.Haasan’s track record of his faith & commitment to democracy while today he preaches the entire world on everything. Someone should remind him about the much-acclaimed saying “Practice before you preach”.

Similarly, Mr.Haasan lavishes praises for Kerala Chief Minister Mr.Pinarayi Vijayan and the Kerala Government time and again. What is not hurting Mr.Haasan is that the same Pinarayi was charge-sheeted and was one of the accused in RSS Swayamsevak Ramachandran’s murder in late 1960’s. Again Mr.Haasan never shied to be in public with the CPM Leader from Kannur Mr.Karayi Rajan, an accused in a murder case of an RSS Swayamsevak. Under the Kerala CM Mr.Pinarayi’s watch in just 16 months of his rule, 16 activists from the RSS and ABVP were brutally hacked to death, many in front of their loved ones in the most gruesome way. Take the case of Mrs.Narayani; Communist goons first hacked Narayani’s husband Unnithan to death in 2002. 14 years later in 2016, the same Communist goons killed their only son Remith, leaving Mrs.Narayani orphaned throughout her life. They were all killed only because they subscribed to a particular ideology. These murders and bloodbath never hurt Mr.Haasan for reasons best known to him.

Mr. Kamal Haasan, who failed to utter a single word on these episodes of brutal violence, sparked a controversy while responding to a question in the Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan from same Pinarayi Vijayan, who had asked to reflect on efforts by the Hindu right-wing groups to dilute Tamil/Dravidian culture. Elaborating, Mr. Haasan said, “Hindus cannot challenge others to show extremists among them since extremism has spread to that extent even among the Hindus.” Hindus are losing faith in the principle of satyameva jayate, and instead, they are subscribing to “might is right.” Mr. Kamal Haasan had to clarify in the next few days stating, “I have to ensure that the remarks I make about Hindus do not offend the Hindus in my own family,” after getting to know that his senseless comments created a flak among people. It’s time we recollect Mr. Kamal Haasan threatened to leave the country, saying he lost faith in Tamil Nadu Government. This, in spite of him, screening his Vishwaroopam to two dozen Muslim organizations that opposed to the release and agreeing to delete the portions objectionable to them.

Mr. Kamal Haasan’s yet another drama was enacted when he chose to visit the Ennore Creek apparently to see the extent of pollution in the Kosathalaiyar river allegedly due to the operations of the Vallur Thermal Power Plant. A famous Tamil daily opined the worries of the Rs.20,000 Crores Ennore Thermal Power Plant and whether the actor had intentions to instigate the locals to fight against the development project at the behest of some group.

Mr. Kamal Haasan once again became a laughing stock on social media when he tweeted, “Bravo again Kerala Govt. Your circular is historic. I’ve refused filling caste and religion columns on my daughter’s birth certificate. My daughters decided after they were 21. Shruti has chosen to be Hindu. Akshara might stay without caste or religion”. The social media users were very quick to find out & let the actor know that the circular was issued way back in 1974 and not a new one.

Mr. Kamal Haasan, who is hoodwinked by WhatsApp forward messages and is largely considered to be a confused person for decades, on the face of the regular scheme of things, does not fit into the discourse of Indian politics. The people of Tamil Nadu are even smarter and will show Mr. Kamal Haasan the right place if at all he ventures into politics, which is extremely doubtful.