Kamal Haasan sure knows how to deliver a fine speech. He has been doing that for years while portraying the myriad of characters on-screen. On the eve of February 21, amidst a crowd of almost 20,000 people and with Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by his side, he launched the name and flag of his party – Makkal Needhi Maiam – in Madurai. The actor’s fans had travelled miles to watch him make the transition from a cinematic giant to a novice politician.
Apart from his fans, several others like Karthi Sivakumar, actor Vivekh, and even Bigg Boss Tamil‘s contestants Arav and Snehan were confident that his vision in Tamil Nadu politics is the need of the hour. Soon after he officially launched his party last night, predictably, the congratulatory messages poured in.
His daughters, Shruti and Akshara, extended their support, saying that it’s a historic moment in their family.
1/1 A proud moment as my dearest bapuji @ikamalhaasan ikamalhaasan has announced Makkal needhi maiam @maiamofficial. My father has taught me, progress is an individual journey & great progress occurs cont’d pic.twitter.com/fxr8vk1Jpt
— Kutty Haasan (@aksharahaasan1) February 21, 2018
1/1 Wishing my dear father all the success on his first step of a million more toward change and political reform – to quote your favourite mahatma Gandhi “be the change you wish to see in the world “ I’m certain your determination and perseverance toward truth and justice cont’d
— shruti haasan (@shrutihaasan) February 21, 2018
1/2 we have witnessed in our family ,will now be seen by everyone in our wonderful home of Tamil Nadu
— shruti haasan (@shrutihaasan) February 21, 2018
Prakash Raj, who, just like Haasan, has been very critical of the government lately, welcomed this change.
Welcome sir.. @ikamalhaasan .. wish n hope your new journey will assure us CITIZENS the freedom to #justasking …..and you will be the voice of change we the CITIZENS deserve .. pic.twitter.com/3ipGKwS1ay
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) February 21, 2018
Actress Kasturi could not stop quoting her favourite bits of his speech on Twitter.
#KamalHaasan speech- “The six joint hands are the 6 southern states. The star in the middle is You the people ! This party is people centric” ! #maiam ????????@ikamalhaasan #MakkalNeedhiMaiam pic.twitter.com/w1HWYEaGt0
— kasturi shankar (@KasthuriShankar) February 21, 2018
#KamalPartyLaunch vignettes- “Those with a short life mock my age- I pledge all of my remaining life to you the people ! The party is set to outlast my life !
No permanent CMs in my party !#maiam #MakkalNeedhiMaiyam @ikamalhaasan— kasturi shankar (@KasthuriShankar) February 21, 2018
MTV Roadies’ Raghu Ram was delighted to watch this new leader’s promise of bringing about a change in the state.
All the best #KamalHaasan Sir! May you succeed in bringing the much needed change in Tamil Nadu political culture #KamalsPoliticalEntry #kamalhaasanpartylaunch
— Raghu Ram (@tweetfromRaghu) February 21, 2018
TFPC president, General Secretary of Nadigar Sangam, actor, and aspiring politician Vishal Krishna admitted that Haasan is an inspiration.
My dear inspiration for standing up for the right and do the right thing.I wish u only the best sir.The path is long and ruf but wat the hell.U hav seen it all.This is a déjà vu for u.Always der as a foot soldier on behalf of your better half (the society).God bless@ikamalhaasan
— Vishal (@VishalKOfficial) February 21, 2018
Sibi Sathyaraj, too, couldn’t think of a better leader to lead Tamil Nadu.
Here’s a party with a leader who I feel will bring the much needed change to the system!All the best @ikamalhaasan sir!??#MakkalNeedhiMaiam #NaalaiNamadhe pic.twitter.com/4sfVoRQxOv
— Sibi (Sathya)raj (@Sibi_Sathyaraj) February 21, 2018
Some were however not pleased with the kind of news coverage Haasan’s political launch was getting.
Do not expect too much from @ikamalhaasan right away. He will create his own space eventually. Right now he is like a breath of fresh air. To make a mark in politics one must go through a learning process.
— Pritish Nandy (@PritishNandy) February 21, 2018
Should be our biggest story of the day but I doubt, media will focus on it. PM @JustinTrudeau ‘s entourage includes JASPAL ATWAL , a CONVICTED ASSASSIN , guilty of shooting & attempting to KILL MALKIAT SINGH SIDHU , a Punjab minister in 1986 1n
From #KamalHaasan focus here !— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) February 22, 2018
President of the Tamil Nadu BJP, Tamilisai Soundarajan, said that Haasan would grow to be a ‘stunted bonsai’ tree in politics. She further added that he was joining politics due to lack of movie offers.
சினிமா வாய்ப்புகள் குறைந்துவிட்டதால் அரசியலுக்கு வருகிறார் கமல் – தமிழிசை சௌந்தர்ராஜன்#KamalPartyLaunch #KamalHaasanPoliticalEntry #TamilisaiSoundararajan @ikamalhaasan @DrTamilisaiBJP @sunnewstamil pic.twitter.com/FWMZcxhQ5s
— Sun News (@sunnewstamil) February 21, 2018
Author Charu Nivedita felt Haasan was making general statements.
“#MakkalNeedhiMaiam“: Kamal Haasan launches new political party
Charu Nivedita, Author, to NDTV pic.twitter.com/3uMNaJCqsl
— NDTV (@ndtv) February 21, 2018
Predictably, there were several memes too. Many couldn’t wrap their heads around the party symbol – of interlocked hands in red and white against a white background with a star in between.
Aandavar avatharam ???#MNM#KamalHaasan pic.twitter.com/pnnGWQzTpV
— வெங்காயம் (@VengayamMeme) February 22, 2018
Pudichitan ?#MakkalNeedhiMaiam #KamalPartyLaunch #KamalHaasanPoliticalEntry #KamalHaasan pic.twitter.com/wVX8VwkaMg
— Sathiya Sodhana (@sathiyasodhana) February 22, 2018
Others took a jibe at the many roles Haasan has played in his cinema career.
Candidates have already been declared for #KamalPartyLaunch pic.twitter.com/fRDNLG7M9o
— Kanatunga (@Kanatunga) February 21, 2018
Close Enough:
Tamils After #KamalPartyLaunch ?? pic.twitter.com/Jt7GgLaKHt— Sharma Ji Ka Launda? (@BeingRasscal) February 21, 2018
