Kallakurichi hooch tragedy victims were ‘careless’: Kamal Haasan

Just at a time when Kamal Hassan is awaiting the impending release of his upcoming two films, namely Indian 2 and Kalki 2898 AD, the actor’s response to a recent tragedy invited debates and brickbats up to his doorstep.

Kamal Haasan recently visited the victims of the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy. The small town in Tamil saw 56 deaths and more than 200 casualties due to the unregulated supply of hooch (naatu saara). Mass funerals across the Kallakurichi region has had the Tamil public fuming, with them blaming the DMK administration for their lack of vigilance and accountability. BJP leaders like Amit Malviya have also gone on to criticize the I.N.D.I alliance, which the DMK is a part of.

While most people are blaming the government, Kamal Haasan took the opposite route, bemoaning the lack of personal accountability in this issue. Addressing the media in Kallakurichi, Kamal Haasan emphasized the importance of responsible drinking, stating that alcohol consumption should be occasional. He has also mentioned that addiction of any substance, be it alcohol or sugar, comes with fatal consequences to an individual. Kamal also urged the government to establish psychiatric centers to provide counseling and support to those affected by the tragedy.

While Kamal Haasan’s statements were well-intentioned and even reasonable, the timing and place of his statement made people perceive those remarks in a poor light. People have gone on to brand his comments as insensitive. The actor is also the chief of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) and netizens have also pointed out that Kamal’s response towards the Kallakurichi tragedy reaffirms why the actor is not a good fit for politics.