I made 'Hey Ram' to apologize to Bapu: Kamal Haasan tells Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi: Renowned actor and filmmaker Kamal Haasan, in a conversation with Rahul Gandhi recently has said he made his movie ‘Hey Ram’ to apologize to Mahatma Gandhi and for correcting himself from being a bitter critic of the father of the nation.
The video of the conversation between Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Kamal Haasan was uploaded on the official YouTube channel of Congress.
The movie ‘Hey Ram’ was made by 68-year-old Kamal Haasan who also starred in the movie besides producing it himself.
Speaking to Rahul Gandhi, Haasan said, “I talk a lot about Gandhi ji now, but it wasn’t right from the beginning. My father was a Congressman but my environment made me a bitter critic of Gandhi ji when I was in my teens. My father said, ‘Just read history, you are talking about today.’ But today matters, is what said. He was a lawyer, but he didn’t argue with me on this.”
The actor also recalled how Gandhi's teachings started attracting him when he was in his 20s. This, he added, laid the foundation for the period movie 'Hey Ram', which presents an alternate history, depicting India’s partition and the assassination of Gandhi by Nathuram Godse.
“When I was 24-25, I discovered Gandhi ji on my own and over the years I have exponentially become a fan. To actually correct yourself and say sorry, that’s why I made Hey Ram, where I played a parallel assassin, wanting to kill Gandhi ji. As he goes nearer to the person–and the truth–he changes. But it’s too late, somebody else does the job that he wanted to but changed his mind,” Haasan explained.
Rahul Gandhi asked Haasan if the idea for the movie was his and the actor said it was so, adding, “It was my way of saying sorry to my Bapu. I have to take the onus of the crimes, including what happened in your family. We let it happen.”
'Hey Ram' had won three honors at the 47th National Film Awards, best supporting actor for Atul Kulkarni, costume design for Sarika and Manthra for special effects. While the movie opened to acclaim, it was also India’s submission to the Academy Awards, but it was not nominated. The movie was made simultaneously in Tamil and Hindi, featuring Shah Rukh Khan in a supporting role.
Haasan joined the Congress rally Bharat Jodo Yatra last week in the national capital. The president of the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) said during his speech at the Red Fort, New Delhi, “Many people asked me why I’m here. I’m here as an Indian. My father was a Congressman. I have had various ideologies and started my own political party but when it comes to the country, all party lines have to blur. I blurred that line and came here.”
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Right to vote under threat, must be made fundamental right: Cong's Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged on Thursday that the right to vote is under threat and the time has come when it should be made a fundamental right for citizens.
Speaking with reporters, Ramesh lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Election Commission (EC) has never been as compromised as it has been under him.
"The rot started under his predecessor. This man is a player and not a neutral observer," the Congress leader said, slamming Kumar.
Kumar is completely compromised and has become a player in elections, he alleged.
"Home Minister Amit Shah had talked about three Ds -- detect, delete and deport. So we want to know how many non-Indian citizens have been detected, how many have been deleted and how many have been deported," Ramesh said, adding that the right to vote is now under threat.
On opposition parties submitting a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to move a motion for the CEC's removal, the Congress leader said they will continue to make efforts for Kumar's removal as he is "compromised".
Ramesh also batted for the right to vote to be recognised as a fundamental right.
"I believe that the time has come that the right to vote should be made a fundamental right. It is a statutory right, it is not a fundamental right. Fundamental rights are justiciable," he said.
The former Union minister said this was discussed in the Constituent Assembly, but it was eventually decided that it should be made part of the Constitution.
B R Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram had warned that in the future, governments might try to disenfranchise voters, he added.
"Once and for all, include the right to vote as a fundamental right for Indian citizens," Ramesh asserted.
