Chennai: Was Kamal Haasan using Abdul Kalam for his political convenience? It appears so. Asked at the Rameswaram press meet why he did not attend Kalam's funeral but chose to begin his political journey from the former President's house, Kamal replied: “I do not attend funeral processions.” Within a few hours, Kamal seemed exposed as the social media was flooded with photos that showed him accompanying the body of Sivaji Ganesan along with Rajinikanth, Ilayaraaja and others. Similarly he was shown paying last respects before the bodies of Manorama, Nagesh, Gemini Ganesan and M.S. Subbulakshmi.
But Kamal Hassan was nowhere to be seen during the last journey of Abdul Kalam at Rameswaram, when every political leader and many others in public life, made it to the island. Whereas Kamal has attempted to exploit Kalam's fame only now, actor Vivek had used every opportunity - in his films, through articles and public platforms - to publicise the former President's thoughts and plan of action for India. In fact Vivek got Abdul Kalam to plant the millionth tree at Cuddalore as part of his tree planting campaign. Kalam's wish that one crore trees be planted would be fulfilled, Vivek had said while attending his funeral at Rameswaram. He even interviewed Kalam for a Tamil channel. If any Tamil actor can lay claim to the Kalam legacy, only Vivek would qualify.
Kamal himself had admitted in his Ananda Vikatan article that he had chanced to meet Dr Kalam during a flight and that was their only interaction. So his sudden discovery of Kalam on Wednesday proved that political opportunism comes naturally even to newbie political leaders. And Kamal Hassan will give a tough fight to the state's Dravidian veterans at least on this front.
