Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Aug 4: Actor, filmmaker, and newly-appointed Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan has heaped praise on fellow actor Suriya and his Agaram Foundation, calling the organisation’s educational mission a “silent revolution” that is quietly transforming lives across Tamil Nadu.
In a heartfelt statement issued after attending the foundation’s 15-year anniversary celebration, Haasan spoke of being “deeply moved” by the stories of impact shared by beneficiaries of the foundation, many of whom have gone on to become doctors, innovators, and community leaders.
"The doctors, innovators, and thought-leaders emerging from Agaram are not merely individual triumphs. They are living testaments to what education can accomplish when nurtured by compassion and a sense of public service," Haasan said.
?? “Not Measured in Numbers, But in Transformation”
Founded by Suriya in 2006, the Agaram Foundation focuses on providing equitable access to quality education for underprivileged students, especially those from rural and marginalised communities in Tamil Nadu. Over the years, it has supported thousands of first-generation learners through school and higher education.
Haasan highlighted the enduring impact of the foundation, stating:
"Your efforts embody the spirit of a just and progressive India. They demonstrate how the light of education, placed in committed hands, can dissolve the entrenched barriers of birth and circumstance."
He went on to say that the real legacy of Suriya might not lie in his cinematic accomplishments alone, but in the lives he has quietly uplifted:
"While your name lit up screens and stages, it gleamed even more enduringly in the quiet triumphs of those you uplifted, the generations who carry forward the light you lit."
?? A Rare Tribute, Actor to Actor
Such a public tribute from Kamal Haasan—one of India’s most respected actors and social commentators—is rare in an industry where accolades are often reserved for performance alone. His recognition of Suriya’s off-screen contributions signals growing appreciation for the actor’s long-standing commitment to social justice.
Suriya, who also won the National Award for Best Actor in 2022 and has been active in education policy debates, is known to keep his philanthropic work low-key. However, Agaram’s impact is increasingly being acknowledged by civil society, educators, and now, Parliamentarians.
??? Lighting a Path Forward
Haasan’s words resonate not just as admiration but as a call to action—for the film fraternity, the public, and policymakers—to recognise and support grassroots initiatives like Agaram that address systemic inequality through education.
"Every child empowered through Agaram carries within them the potential to heal, to lead communities, and to uplift countless others," Haasan concluded.
In an era where celebrity is often loud, Suriya’s quiet revolution, as Haasan describes it, offers a powerful reminder: that real change starts not in the spotlight, but in the lives quietly transformed behind the scenes.