"No Hindu Religion During Chola Period": Kamal Haasan

Chennai: Actor Kamal Haasan has picked up the loose ends of a debate on whether Raja Raja Chola was a Hindu King, saying he was not.

In so doing, Haasan was supporting Tamil movie director Vetrimaaran's argument that Raja Raja Chola wasn't a Hindu king igniting conversations surrounding Tamil identity and origin of the term Hindu.

Speaking at an event a day after the release of his movie "Ponniyin Selvan", Vetrimaaran contended that Raja Raja Chozlan wasn't Hindu but BJP was trying to steal "our identity" as they had tried to saffronize Thiruvalluvar.

Vetrimaran went on to add that, "We should never allow that."

Kamal Hassan was quoted as saying there was no 'Hindu religion' during Raja Raja Chola's period but there was Vainavam, Shivam, and Samanam.

He added that the British coined the term Hindu for want of any collectively term to refer to it, much like how they changed Thuthukudi into Tuticorin.

BJP came down heavily on Vetimaaran with BJP leader H Raja stating that Raja Raja Chola was indeed a Hindu king.

H Raja asked the director to point out two churches and mosques built by Raja Raja Chola, adding that Raja Raja Chola called Sivapadha Sekaran. Afterwards, the BJP leader asked, "wasn't he a Hindu then?"

The movie "Ponniyin Selvan" has made good both at box office and in reviews.