Kamal Haasan, the prominent actor and politician, is embroiled in a controversy and has received a death threat following his contentious remarks on Sanatana Dharma. The controversy arose at the 15th-anniversary celebration of actor Suriya’s Agaram Foundation, where Haasan voiced criticism of the central government’s NEET examination, claiming it exemplified the negative impact of Sanatana Dharma on aspiring doctors. This triggered a wave of criticism, including a death threat issued by television actor Ravichandran.
Haasan, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP and the founder of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), emphasized the transformative power of education, positioning it as a tool to combat dictatorship and challenge Sanatana. His statements drew immediate condemnation from political figures. The Tamil Nadu BJP has urged a boycott of Haasan’s films, including those on streaming services. BJP state secretary Amar Prasad Reddy alleged that Haasan’s statements were similar to those made by Udhayanidhi Stalin, aimed at dismantling Sanatana Dharma. Senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan also criticized Haasan, accusing him of disrespecting Hindu sentiments.
Adding fuel to the fire, Ravichandran, in a YouTube interview, described Haasan as a ‘naive politician’ and threatened him over his comments. Previously, Haasan faced controversy earlier this year when he stated that Kannada originated from Tamil, leading to a ban on his film ‘Thug Life’ in Karnataka and significant public outcry.