Prime Minister Modi encounter documented in Kamal Haasan's Instagram posts, with an appeal included
Kamal Haasan, the renowned actor and newly minted Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, recently met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi to discuss the importance of the Keeladi archaeological site in Tamil Nadu.
Haasan, who is also a prominent cultural figure from Tamil Nadu, emphasised the need to highlight the timeless glory of Tamil civilisation, particularly the Keeladi site. His advocacy comes amid ongoing debate, as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has so far withheld formal recognition of the site, pending further scientific review.
In his role as a Rajya Sabha MP, Haasan framed his appeal both as a representative of Tamil Nadu and as an artist, seeking broader national and international validation of the site's importance. The meeting and Haasan's gesture of gifting a Keeladi-themed memento to the Prime Minister symbolize his commitment to raising awareness and support for Tamil cultural history in the face of political and cultural tensions around the site's recognition.
Haasan wrote about the meeting on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), highlighting his role as a Tamil Nadu representative and an artist in bringing attention to the cause of Keeladi's recognition. His main request during the meeting was to expedite the recognition of Keeladi's antiquity, which he believes is foundational to Tamil identity and history.
Apart from his advocacy for the Keeladi site, Haasan is also known for his work in the film industry. His latest film, Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, was released in multiple languages (Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam) this year. The cast of Thug Life includes several notable actors, such as Silambarasan TR, Trisha, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Nassar, Mahesh Manjrekar, and Ali Fazal, among others.
Haasan described the meeting with the Prime Minister as an honor and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to represent the people of Tamil Nadu on a national platform. His role in championing the recognition and promotion of Keeladi's antiquity underscores his commitment to preserving and celebrating Tamil heritage and culture.
- Kamal Haasan, in his dual role as a Rajya Sabha MP and an artist, also conducts himself as a news figure and a celebrity, frequently utilizing his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), to discuss topics beyond entertainment, such as the Keeladi site's recognition.
- In addition to his cultural and political activism, Kamal Haasan is also a prominent figure in the general-news sphere, often sought after for his views on various subjects, including entertainment, Tamil Nadu's heritage, politics, and more.
- The importance of Keeladi's recognition, as advocated by Kamal Haasan, transcends entertainment, reaching into the realms of health, news, and politics, as the site's significance goes beyond cultural pride to include historical evidence that could shed light on the Tamil people's origins and health practices in ancient times.
