Dravidam will exist for long: Kamal Haasan

Chennai: The Dravidian ethos is not confined to Tamil Nadu alone, but it is a pan Indian movement, actor Kamal Haasan asserted on Thursday. Apparently hitting out strongly against parties like the BJP, Kamal Haasan said some people are saying that Dravidian movement would perish.

The word 'Dravidam' will remain as long as the national anthem 'ana gana mana existed, he said. Speaking at the 'Murasoli' platinum jubilee function, the actor said self-respect is more important than self defence. From the Indus valley, Dravidians were pushed to Tamil Nadu and added that the country should remember this.” I am not talking about votes, but I am talking about people's power”, he said. He said the first Tamil voice he heard was that of thespian Sivaji Ganesan and later he came to know about the second voice of DMK president M. Karunanidhi who had penned the dialogue for Sivaji Ganesan.

“Since, I heard the voice of Kalaignar, I have become his great fan”. Referring to speculations and questions if he is going to join the DMK, Kamal Haasan said he could have done it when Karunanidhi invited him to join his party in 1983. He had not given a reply to it till now.

He said the reason for taking part in the function is that he want to share dais with successful journalists and added that he also tried to become a journalist once.

“I asked if actor Rajinikanth is attending the function. When it was known that Rajinikanth would sit as a spectator, I also wanted to sit with him. But, I did not want to miss the chance of sharing the stage with prominent journalists. It is a new experience for me”, Kamal Haasan said.

Lyricist Vairamuthu hailed Murasoli and said it taught Tamil and the self respect of Tamil race to Tamils. He recalled how Karunanidhi toiled hard to bring out and sell 'Murasoli' when he was a young man in Tiruvarur.

Actor Rajinikanth took part as a spectator, but shared a few moments at the dais when he was presented with a memento by DMK working president M.K. Stalin and Kamal Haasan together. Journalists from all the major English and Tamil newspapers, besides those from Tamil magazines felicitated Murasoli.