Actor Kamal Haasan launch a documentary film based on the life of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during a function at the Central stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN

“We must encourage leaders like Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who are not shy of criticism and recognise them for their good work,” actor Kamal Haasan has said.

He was speaking at the release of a documentary Pinarayi the Legend brought out by the Kerala Secretariat Employees’ Association in connection with the fourth anniversary of the second Left Democratic Front (LDF) government led by Mr. Vijayan on Wednesday.

The actor who had kicked up a controversy with his recent statement that the Kannada language was ‘born out of Tamil,’ leading to a fierce backlash, began his speech in Malayalam. He made it a point to underline that Kerala was his State too and he was thankful to Malayalis for counting him as one of their own since his younger days.

‘Proven the opposite’

The actor who then shifted to speaking in Tamil so that what he said “could be heard there too” said there were complaints that south India was not flourishing but Mr. Vijayan was one of the leaders who had proven the opposite.

He said their political ideologies might diverge but when it came to social service, both he and Mr. Vijayan were comrades. People should be made the centre of all ideology. “We are all workers. Mr. Vijayan is a leader of the workers,” the actor said.

Kerala, he said, had everything going for it to make progress. It was the State’s need that Mr. Vijayan live a long and healthy life.

Mr. Vijayan’s birthday was celebrated by cutting a cake.

Unbreakable bond

Welcoming the actor, Mr. Vijayan said Kerala was the actor’s home. He had forged an unbreakable bond with the audience here. He had also shown that an artiste had a social commitment beyond art, and had led many protests for social justice in recent times. Mr. Haasan cared about people and had a Left mindset, Mr. Vijayan said.

He spoke about the LDF returning to power for a historic second consecutive term and the response of the people to public meetings held in connection with the fourth anniversary of the government.

The 30-minute documentary throws light on Mr. Vijayan’s life and political career.