Kamal Haasan: 'My father backed my decision to enter politics'

Actor turned politician Kamal Haasan on Thursday celebrated his 65th birthday in his hometown Paramakudi in Tamil Nadu. During his birthday celebration, he also unveiled a bust of his late father D Srinivasan and announced the setting up of a Skill Development centre for the youths to hone their skills and emerge as an entrepreneur. Haasan also spoke about his father supporting his decision to join politics. 

Stressing the importance of developing skills, he said he himself could manage life well only because he had known "two or three skills". He said his desire is that young people should be able to get gainful employment by honing their skills in their hometowns rather than moving to big cities in search of job opportunities. Also, the youth should realise that no vocation was below anyone's dignity and all professions are honourable. Everyone should not seek to be engineers and advocates, he said.

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'Dad backed my entry into politics'

Paying rich tributes to his father, Kamal disclosed in his address to a large gathering of fans that none in his family, barring his father, had supported his decision to get into politics. His lawyer-father, who had participated in the freedom movement, was for his getting into politics, he said, adding that his late father's wish came true when he founded the Makkal Neethi Maiam (MNM) last year.

Speaking highly of his father Haasan said, "When my father told me I should enter politics, I expressed doubt if there was any need for that whereas such necessity existed when he participated in the freedom movement. He asked me what I would do if the need arose. Well, the need has arisen now and that's why I launched into politics", said Kamal, insisting that his foray into politics was "not due to any shortcomings or dearth of other opportunities" but only to serve the society.

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Haasan's acting career

Haasan has been in the film industry for a very long time as he started his career as a child artist in 1960 in the Tamil film Kalathur Kannamma. He won the President’s Gold Medal for this movie as well. His breakthrough as a lead actor came in the 1975 drama Apoorva Raagangal, directed by K.Balachander. In this drama, he played a rebellious youth who falls in love with an older woman. He won his first National Film Award for his portrayal of a guileless schoolteacher who cares for a woman who suffers from retrograde amnesia in Moondram Pirai (1983). 

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