Actor-politician and newly nominated Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, marking his first official engagement with the country’s top leadership since taking office in the Upper House a few days ago. During the meeting, Kamal Haasan highlighted key concerns related to Tamil culture and heritage, with a strong focus on the archaeological site of Keeladi.
In a message shared after the meeting, Haasan described it as an honour to meet the Prime Minister and said he used the opportunity to raise several issues relevant to the people of Tamil Nadu. At the top of the list was his appeal for expedited recognition of Keeladi’s antiquity – a subject of growing academic and political interest in the state.
“As a representative of the people of Tamil Nadu and as an artist, I placed before him a few requests, foremost among them was the call to expedite the recognition of Keeladi’s antiquity,” Kamal Haasan said.
The Keeladi excavations, located in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga district, have unearthed significant artifacts pointing to an advanced and literate urban civilisation dating back to at least the 6th century BCE. Scholars and cultural advocates in Tamil Nadu have long argued that the site provides vital evidence of early Tamil civilisation and challenges the dominant narratives that often centre northern Indian sites.
Haasan also urged Prime Minister Modi to support broader efforts to promote the Tamil language and civilisation on the global stage.
“I urged the Prime Minister to extend his support to the Tamil people in showcasing to the world the grandeur of Tamil civilisation and the timeless glory of the Tamil language,” he added.
The meeting comes at a time when Tamil identity and history have become focal points in both academic discourse and political debate. Haasan, who has consistently blended his artistic influence with political advocacy, appears poised to use his new role in the Rajya Sabha to further spotlight these issues.
His nomination to the Rajya Sabha, under the category of eminent persons, was widely welcomed across political and cultural circles, recognizing his contributions to Indian cinema and public discourse.
மாண்புமிகு இந்தியப் பிரதமர் திரு. நரேந்திர மோடி அவர்களை மரியாதை நிமித்தமாக இன்று சந்தித்தேன். ஒரு கலைஞனாகவும் தமிழ்நாட்டின் பிரதிநிதியாகவும் அவரிடம் சில கோரிக்கைகளைத் தெரிவித்திருக்கிறேன். அவற்றுள் தலையாயது கீழடி.
தமிழின் தொன்மையை, தமிழ் நாகரிகத்தின் பெருமையை உலகிற்கு உரக்கச்… pic.twitter.com/rXwXzddMvF
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) August 7, 2025