Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Not knowing Tamil is an insult, Dhanush tells students
An actor named Dhanush went to a school in Chennai, India, to talk to students.
He told them that Tamil is their mother tongue, and they should learn it well.
Dhanush said it is not something to be proud of if you cannot speak Tamil.
In fact, he said it is an insult to not know your own mother tongue.
He explained that when he was young, his generation spoke Tamil well but had trouble with English.
Now, he says, things are different, and about eight out of every ten people he meets do not know Tamil.
He wants children to become good at their own language first, before learning other languages.
Dhanush is also a movie star, and he told students about his next film.
That movie is called 'OM' and will come out in theaters around the world on October 16, 2026.
Actor Dhanush urged students at a school event in Chennai to prioritize and protect their mother tongue, Tamil.
He said about eight of every 10 people he meets today do not know Tamil, a reversal from his school days when his generation was fluent in Tamil but struggled with English.
Dhanush said, "To say I'm not fluent in Tamil is not a matter of pride. It's an insult."
He stressed that people should become fluent in their native language before focusing on other languages.
His upcoming film, tentatively titled 'OM' and starring Mammootty, Sai Pallavi and Sreeleela, releases worldwide on October 16, 2026.
- Who
- Actor Dhanush, speaking to students at a school event in Chennai.
- What
- Urged students to prioritize and protect Tamil, calling lack of fluency in one's mother tongue 'an insult,' and mentioned his upcoming film 'OM'.
- When
- On a Wednesday; the article was updated on August 3, 2026, and 'OM' releases worldwide on October 16, 2026.
- Where
- Chennai, at a school event; 'OM' will be released worldwide in theaters.
- Why
- To emphasize that people should become fluent in their native language before focusing on other languages.
- Speaker
- Actor Dhanush
- Event
- School event in Chennai
- Key statement
- "To say I'm not fluent in Tamil is not a matter of pride. It's an insult."
- Observation
- Around 8 of every 10 people Dhanush meets today do not know Tamil
- Next film
- 'OM' (tentatively titled)
- Cast
- Dhanush, Mammootty, Sai Pallavi, Sreeleela
- Writer/Director
- Rajkumar Periasamy; music by Sai Abhyankkar
- Release date
- October 16, 2026, worldwide theatrical release