Dhanush tells Chennai students that not knowing Tamil is shameful

Actor Dhanush told students at his Chennai alma mater that not knowing one's mother tongue is shameful, urging them to prioritize Tamil. He spoke Tuesday while inaugurating a school block he funded at Thaai Sathya Matriculation School. Citing a Belgium production crew's reaction, he said English should be a bonus, not a replacement for Tamil. He lamented that most young people now cannot read or write Tamil. Tamil is one of the world's oldest living languages with a 2,000-year literary tradition. International Mother Language Day honours such linguistic heritage. Dhanush's remarks highlight concerns about preserving native languages amid English's global dominance.