Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan has become the target of threats following his recent remarks on Sanatana Dharma. The uproar stemmed from his statements at the 15th-anniversary event of Suriya’s Agaram Foundation, where he criticized the NEET examination, describing it as an adverse consequence of Sanatana Dharma that negatively impacts aspiring doctors. This critique led to significant opposition, culminating in a death threat from television actor Ravichandran.
Haasan, also a Rajya Sabha MP and the founder of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), asserted the importance of education in transforming the nation and overcoming challenges such as dictatorship and Sanatana. His comments immediately drew criticism from political circles. The Tamil Nadu BJP has responded by calling for a boycott of all Kamal Haasan films, including those on OTT platforms, with BJP state secretary Amar Prasad Reddy comparing him to Udhayanidhi Stalin, alleging their shared goal of undermining Sanatana Dharma. Senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan also criticized Haasan for allegedly offending Hindu beliefs.
Adding to the controversy, Ravichandran, in a YouTube interview, labeled Haasan a ‘naive politician’ and threatened him over the controversial statements. Earlier this year, Haasan faced backlash and a ban on his film ‘Thug Life’ in Karnataka after suggesting Kannada was derived from Tamil, further fueling the controversy.