Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated Keraleeyam 2023, which is called the festival of the Malayalees, on Wednesday, November 1, at Thiruvananthapuram. The event witnessed Kerala's cabinet ministers, diplomatic representatives of the UAE, South Korea, Norway, and Cuba, including leading Malayalam film stars Mammootty and Mohanlal, with Tamil actor-politician Kamal Haasan also gracing the occasion. Sharing the stage with Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Kamal Haasan were seen dressed in traditional white shirts and dhotis, with pictures from the ceremony now going viral on social media.
Epic moments with the icons! 🤩#Kerala Chief Minister @pinarayivijayan, Ulaganayagan @ikamalhaasan, and the legends @mammukka & @Mohanlal at #Keraleeyam2023 ❤️#KamalHaasan #Keraleeyam #PinarayiVijayan #Mammootty #Mohanlal #Lalettan #PinarayiVijayan #Galatta pic.twitter.com/BmetfsILVs
— Galatta Media (@galattadotcom) November 1, 2023
Keraleeyam 2023 is described as a celebration of Kerala's rich cultural heritage and is scheduled to be held from November 1 to November 7 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The presence of Kamal Haasan alongside Mohanlal and Mammootty, with actresses Shobana and Manju Warrier, and several industrialists and personalities from different fields from various countries has elevated the celebrations. Speaking at Keraleeyam 2023, Kamal Haasan in his address to the people gathered at the prestigious event emphasized on how Kerala has played a big role in his life as an artiste and in politics.
Kamal Haasan goes on to speak about how he sought the advice of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan when he decided to take an active plunge into the world of politics in 2017 when he founded the Makkal Needhi Maiam. He also talks about how his people-centric politics drew a big inspiration from Kerala's model of development and how he tried to emulate the state's governance model while mentioning his attempts at strengthening Tamil Nadu's local bodies. Addressing the audience gathered in English for the rest of the nation to know more about Kerala, Kamal Haasan further spoke about how the state holds a special place in his life and his journey, while also crediting the people for being generous in embracing his art.
Watch Kamal Haasan's full speech at Keraleeyam 2023 below:
