Actor Kamal Haasan has been boldly criticising the Tamil Nadu State Government for the past few months and he has also been seeking a reelection for the State Assembly. When he met the press on Wednesday he again reiterated his demand for a reelection in the state.

On thursday, reporters posed a question about Kamal Haasan's demand to K.P. Anbalagan the Cabinet Minister for Higher Education department. To this the senior minister said "கமல் எல்லாம் ஒரு ஆளே கிடையாது. அவன் பேசறதுக்கெல்லாம் என்னால பதில் சொல்ல முடியாது” ((Kamal is not a person worth of getting my answers for his questions).

For non-Tamil readers, the word 'Avan' denotes to 'He' in a disrespectful way.It is normal to use the word to refer a person in colloquial discourse but in public discourse it is considered indecent and disrespectful to refer to someone with that word. A minister speaking about a veteran actor in such a language has shocked everyone in the state and many commoners and celebrities in the social media are condemning this.