70 year old actor and political figure Kamal Haasan took a moment on Monday to honour the late Tamil leader M. Karunanidhi, marking the DMK patriarch’s birth anniversary on June 3, 2025. Amid legal and cultural tensions flaring around Kamal Haasan over a remark that 'Kannada is born out of Tamil', the star actor cum politician paid tribute to the late Kalaignar, who during his lifetime was a champion for the 'Tamil language' himself. 

"I am delighted to honor the unparalleled leader Kalaignar, who dedicated his entire life to the Tamil language, Tamil arts, the development of Tamil Nadu, and the welfare of Tamils.", read Kamal Haasan's post alongside an old picture of the star with Karunanidhi. 

தமிழ் மொழிக்கும் தமிழ்க் கலைக்கும் தமிழ்நாட்டின் வளர்ச்சிக்கும் தமிழர்தம் நலனுக்கும் தன் மொத்த வாழ்வையும் அர்ப்பணித்துச் செயலாற்றிய ஒப்பற்ற தலைவர் கலைஞரை அவர்தம் பிறந்த நாளில் போற்றுவதில் மகிழ்கிறேன். pic.twitter.com/wnR0lOhfKS

— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) June 3, 2025

Kamal Haasan, who heads the political party Makkal Needhi Maiam, has currently collaborated with Karunanidhi's grandson, and Tamil Nadu deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, on a film titled Thug Life.

Thug Life is jointly written by Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, is directed by Mani Ratnam, and is a joint production venture of Kamal Haasan's RKFI, Mani Ratnam's Madras Talkies, and Udhaynidhi Stalin's Red Giant Movies. The movie faces a ban in Karnataka, because Kamal Haasan stated in a Chennai event, 

"Uyire Urave Tamizhe" (My life, my family, my Tamil). Your (Kannada actor Shivarajkumar who was a guest at the event) language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil, so you too are included." 

 

Thug Life currently stands postponed in Karnataka till June 10, 2025. Considering the backdrop, Kamal Haasan has struck a resolute tone of Tamil pride, and reverence with this post, which is his first tweet since the heavily worded Karnataka High Court hearing, that accused the actor of 'ego' over refusing to apologize for his no-malice remarks.