Kamal Haasan launches his party Makkal Needhi Maiam; says I am not a leader but a tool
Leading actor Kamal Haasan on Wednesday took the political plunge as he unveiled his party and flag at a public meeting in Madurai.
Leading actor Kamal Haasan on Wednesday took the political plunge as he unveiled his party and flag at a public meeting in Madurai.
The actor said that his party will be called Makkal Needhi Maiam.
"I am not your leader, I am your tool.. this gathering is full of leaders," he said moments before announcing the party's name that roughly translates to "Centre for People's Justice."
The party flag was unveiled just before Haasan announced the name of his party with a brief pause heightening the dramatic effect as the huge crowd roared its approval.
The flag in white background has six hands joining together with shades of red over three hands and rest with white along with a star in between surrounded by a star like background in black.
Colours black and white has a political significance in Tamil Nadu which forms part of the flags of the two big parties of the state-- AIADMK and DMK--and the shades are also seen as a pointer to the Dravidian ideology.
Citing a Tamil proverb of 'Oru Soru,' which means a small example of a whole lot, he said the launch was just the first step for 'makkal atchi,' (people's rule).
Haasan began his political journey by visiting the house of A P J Abdul Kalam, describing the former president as his "role model".
He also paid homage at the memorial of the 'missile man' at Peikarumbu.
The actor briefly interacted with Kalam's non-agenarian brother Mohammed Muthumeera Lebbai Maraikkayar while being flanked by other close relatives of the former President.
The veteran actor also said he had lived in the hearts of fans but now wanted to live in people's homes in his new role.
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Leading actor Kamal Haasan on Wednesday took the political plunge as he unveiled his party and flag at a public meeting in Madurai.
People of Delhi rejected both BJP and Congress and gave us 67 seats, the kind of response I am seeing here I am sure people of Tamil Nadu will break record of people of Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal in Madurai
"I am not a leader but a tool. You are the leaders," says Haasan
Kamal Haasan says his launch meeting and the cheering crowd is a small grain of the whole, and the hands of the corrupt will burn if they try to touch it. He also wanted his supporters to set an example to other political parties.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and AAP Tamil Nadu in-charge Somnath Bharti at the launch of Kamal Haasan's political party in Madurai.
You must be an example to the present day political system and I will be seeking your suggestion rather than giving you speeches: Kamal Haasan
My party's name is 'Makkal Needhi Maiam': Kamal Haasan
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal is also scheduled to attend the launch event.
LED screen falls at Kamal's party launch venue
A giant LED screen erected at the venue, where actor Kamal Haasan is scheduled to launch his political party here, collapsed due to heavy winds today, police said.
However, no one was injured, they said.
On being hailed by his fans and supporters as as 'Nammavar' (our man) ahead of his political plunge, Haasan said it amounts to people "owning me up as their man." Haasan has starred in a film titled 'Nammavar.' "It is the name of a film. My fans are aware of it. It's owning me up, it's our man, that's what it means," he said.