Date:01/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/01/stories/2007120163180100.htm

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In his most convincing role yet

Ramya Kannan

Kamal Hassan

CHENNAI: Sporting a white shirt and dark blazer, his beard reminiscent of a younger man in his ’80s movie ‘Sathya,’ Kamal Hassan is all set to sweep audiences with his most convincing role yet. For somebody known to transform himself to suit the roles on screen, here is yet another avatar — Kamal, the campaign manager of the United Nations HIV/AIDS programme.

“This is very important to me. I’m not treating it like social work. It is personal work,” he told The Hindu in an interview just ahead of World AIDS Day.

For a superstar who has consciously stayed away from endorsing products, does the tag ‘brand ambassador’ sit easy?

“This is not a brand. This is a problem. I’m addressing it as any responsible citizen of the world should,” he says.

He thinks he was chosen because he was “available and willing,” but also because of being a Tamil. His ‘Ini oru Vidhi Seivom’ campaign, launched on Thursday, is on air.

In chaste Tamil, he chants the oath he himself penned for the campaign, promising to uphold the human rights of people living with HIV/AIDS.

“The more we talk to people, the better it is. From what I hear, nearly 90 per cent don’t know they are affected. They continue to spread the virus in ignorance and die without treatment. That is something we have to address,” he says.

“Human rights are more important. I am very sure that medicine in all its efficiency will come out with a cure.” His concern is for the millions living with HIV/AIDS who are being stigmatised.

Over the last three-four days, he has been interacting with people living with HIV/AIDS.

“They were people who were thrown out of their homes, who contemplated suicide. They told me their stories without rhetoric or drama, very matter-of-factly. But the vibrations have stayed with me. When I’m alone and I’m thinking, it affects me. That is the kind of effect I want to impart.”

A realistic campaigner, he has no illusions — “This is going to take a long time. We must have the will and stamina of a long distance runner.”