Actor-politician Kamal Haasan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today for the first time since taking oath as a Rajya Sabha MP. During the meeting, he strongly advocated for official recognition of the Keeladi archaeological findings, which many in Tamil Nadu view as evidence of the ancient roots of Tamil civilisation.
In a Facebook post after the meeting, the Makkal Needhi Maiam founder stated that he raised the matter “as a representative of the people of Tamil Nadu and as an artist.”
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“Today, I had the honour of meeting the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi ji. 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,” Mr Haasan said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“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.
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
The post, written in both Tamil and English, was accompanied by photos showing Kamal Haasan presenting a Keeladi-themed memento to Prime Minister Modi and engaging in a detailed discussion across the table.
The hashtag #Keeladi quickly began trending, with supporters applauding Haasan’s efforts to spotlight Tamil cultural heritage at the national level.
Keeladi has long been a focal point of cultural and political discourse in Tamil Nadu, with widespread calls for the central government to grant it the same historical recognition as other major heritage sites in India. Haasan has consistently championed the cause of heritage preservation and Tamil identity, both as a public figure and political leader.
The meeting comes at a time of significant cultural and political developments in Tamil Nadu, fueling fresh speculation about Haasan’s evolving role in national politics.
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The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has so far withheld formal recognition of the Keeladi excavations, citing the need for further scientific validation. The BJP has denied allegations of suppressing the findings, stating that it is merely seeking stronger evidence to ensure the research meets global academic standards.