Ponniyin Selvan Controversy: ‘No Hindu Religion During Raja Raja Cholan Period’, Says Kamal Haasan

Ponniyin Selvan: 1 Row: National award-winning Tamil director Vetrimaaran has sparked controversy by claiming that Raja Raja Cholan wasn’t a Hindu king. Now, Kamal Haasan has backed the director’s assertion which has opened floodgates for controversial debates concerning the king’s identification. It all began at an occasion Vetrimaaran attended the place he raised a number of eyebrows when he mentioned, “Raja Raja Chozlan wasn`t Hindu but they (BJP) are trying to steal our identity. They have already tried to saffronize Thiruvalluvar. We should never allow that. ”Also Read – Ponniyin Selvan 1 Box Office Collection Day 6: Historical Drama Breaks Records One At a Time, Enters Rs 300 Club – Check Detailed Report

Then, Kamal Hassan echoed comparable sentiments and mentioned, “There was no name called `Hindu religion` during Raja Raja Cholan`s period. There was Vainavam, Shivam, and Samanam, and it was the British who coined the term Hindu since they didn`t know how to refer to it collectively. It is similar to how they changed Thuthukudi into Tuticorin.” Well, curiously, Vetimaaran`s remarks got here only a day after the discharge of the movie Ponniyin Selvan: 1 which is predicated on a fictional novel impressed by Raja Raja Cholan. Although Vetimaaran did discover help from Haasan, BJP got here all weapons blazing on the director. BJP chief H Raja has acknowledged that Raja Raja Chola was certainly a Hindu king. Also Read – Ponniyin Selvan 1 Box Office Collection Day 5: Mani Ratnam’s Period Drama Crosses Rs 100 Crore in Tamil Nadu, Surpasses Vikram

He questioned Vetimaran – “I am not well versed with history like Vetrimaran, but let him point out two churches and mosques built by Raja Raja Cholan. He called himself Sivapadha Sekaran. Wasn`t he a Hindu then?”. Well, this isn’t the primary time {that a} assertion on Raja Raja Cholan has made headlines in Tamil Nadu. Also Read – Ponniyin Selvan 1 Box Office Collection Day 4: Mani Ratnam’s Film Passes Crucial Monday Test With Flying Colours – Check Detailed Report

In 2019, movie director P A Ranjith sparked controversy after he criticized the king. He mentioned at the moment that the rule of the erstwhile king was a darkish age for Dalits. He claimed, “Land had been forcibly taken away from them and many forms of caste oppression had begun during Raja Raja Cholan`s reign”.

–With inputs from ANI