Chennai | May 28, 2025 , In a significant political development, acclaimed actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan is poised to make his debut in the Rajya Sabha with the backing of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The DMK has officially confirmed that Haasan will be nominated for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections as part of the alliance arrangement under the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which was formalized ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Haasan's nomination was part of a pre-election understanding reached in March 2024, when his party MNM joined the DMK-led SPA. Tamil Nadu is set to witness the retirement of six Rajya Sabha members between June and July 2025. Of these six seats, the ruling alliance is projected to win four, while the AIADMK-PMK alliance is expected to retain the remaining two.
As per alliance agreements, one of the four seats allotted to the DMK bloc will go to Kamal Haasan, marking his formal entry into the upper house of Parliament.
Controversy Surrounds Cultural Remarks
The announcement of Haasan's Rajya Sabha nomination coincides with a wave of controversy sparked by the actor-politician's recent remarks on the linguistic origins of Kannada. During a promotional event for his upcoming film ‘Thug Life’ in Bengaluru, Haasan stated that “Kannada was born out of Tamil,” a comment that has drawn sharp criticism from Kannada language activists and political leaders, including Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra.
The remarks, which quickly went viral, have triggered widespread backlash across Karnataka. While speaking at the Chennai launch of Thug Life, Haasan began his address with the words, “Uyire Urave Tamizhe” (meaning "My life and my relationship is Tamil"), before gesturing toward Kannada actor Shivarajkumar, who was also present at the event. Haasan said, “This is my family. That’s why he (Shivarajkumar) has come here. Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil, so you too are included.”
The comments have intensified linguistic and cultural sensitivities in the southern region just weeks ahead of the film's release, adding a political edge to what would have otherwise been a cultural affair.
Despite the controversy, Kamal Haasan’s entry into Parliament is seen as a notable moment in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, symbolizing the growing convergence between cinema and politics in the region.
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