Chetan Kumar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 24 February 1983[1] |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Chetan Ahimsa, Myna Chetan, Aa Dinagalu Chetan |
| Alma mater | Yale University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Spouse | Megha Shrivastav (m. 2020) |
Chetan Kumar (Kannada: ಚೇತನ್ ಕುಮಾರ) (born 24 February 1983),[1] also known as Chetan Ahimsa, is an American Kannada-language film actor. Chetan made his on-screen debut in the 2007 cult classic film Aa Dinagalu, which earned him the Udaya Film Award for Best Debut Actor Male. His most recent success came in the 2013 hit film Myna, for which his performance received strong critical acclaim.
Chetan was born and brought up in Chicago, Illinois, US. He finished high school as the valedictorian at Marist High School, Chicago. His parents, both doctors working in the US, are originally from Karnataka, India. Chetan Kumar married his long-time partner Megha on 2 February 2020.[2] Their wedding ceremony, which was held in an orphanage,[3] received praise for innovative initiatives such as a plantable (seed paper) invitation card, marriage vows presided by a transgender activist, and gifting the 'Indian Constitution' to all guests.[4][5][6] One of his tweets regarding a high court justice of the Karnataka High Court sparked controversy.[7]
Kumar graduated from Yale University in South Asian studies with an emphasis on comparative theater in 2005.[8] As a US citizen, Chetan came to India as a Fulbright Scholar for the 2005-2006 academic year.[9][10][11]
Upon completing his studies in 2005, Kumar was awarded a twelve-month Fulbright Scholarship to Karnataka, India. During this time, he collaborated with the National School of Drama in Bangalore.[12]
In the film Noorondu Nenapu (2017), Kumar portrayed the lead character named "Shreyas".[13] However, in Chamarajanagara, Karnataka, the film faced opposition from right-wing extremists who tore down posters and prevented its screening, citing Kumar's political stances.[14]
Chetan identifies himself as an Ambedkarite and espouses the ideas of Buddha, Basava, Ambedkar, Phule, and Periyar.[15] He actively supports various social causes and has been involved in several activist initiatives, including:[16]
Kumar actively supported the cause of demanding 24-hour medical care and a monthly compensation increase for Endosulfan victims in Karnataka's coastal belt. The objective was to raise the compensation from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 3,000-5,000. As a result of these efforts, the state government allocated Rs. 72-90 crores for the rehabilitation of pesticide poisoning victims, thereby meeting the demands of the campaign. The state government continues to provide the allocated support for the victims.[29]
Kumar took a leading role in a large-scale campaign aimed at rehabilitating 3,000 Coorg tribals who were unlawfully displaced in December 2016.[30][31] As part of the campaign, homes are currently being constructed near Kushalnagara under the auspices of the government. Each home is estimated to cost Rs. 4 lakhs, and the project aims to benefit more than 528 families.[32]
In April 2018, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) officially accused the Dhidalli struggle of being "Naxalite-inspired" and listed Kumar as responsible. However, Kumar has vehemently denied these allegations and argued that the Dhidalli protest was non-violent and constitutional. He has called for an apology from the Law Minister and the BJP state President in response to these accusations.[33]
Kumar has been involved in advocating for the recognition of an independent Lingayat religion[34] that is based on the philosophy of Basava and the Vachana literature. He has actively participated in pro-Lingayat religion forums held in various locations such as Bengaluru, Kalburgi, and Hassan. Additionally, he has contributed to several TV discussions and interviews to raise awareness and promote dialogue on this issue.[35]
Kumar played a significant role[17] in leading the efforts to obtain state recognition for the Kadugolla community. The Kadugolla community consists of Kannada-speaking Adivasis who are engaged in sheep-rearing and have distinct socio-cultural practices and religious icons. Through his advocacy and activism, Kumar successfully achieved the recognition of the Kadugolla community by the state government.[36][37]
Kumar is the founder of FIRE[38] (Film Industry for Rights and Equality), an association based in the Kannada Film industry. Established in 2017, FIRE aims to address issues related to sexual harassment in the workplace, enhance the livelihoods of film workers and technicians, and establish a writers' guild[39] that provides certification and structured payments for writers. The association works towards creating a safe and equitable working environment within the Kannada Film industry.[40][41]
Kumar was actively involved in teaching critical thinking and current events at a village school in Mullur, Karnataka, located 25 km outside of Mysore. Starting in September 2005, he implemented various academic techniques such as interactive sessions, discussion forums, writing assignments, guest speakers, and meta-syllabus-based studies to enhance the learning experience for students.[42]
Chetan Ahimsa has been actively advocating for Dalit/Adivasi rights and promoting the anti-caste ideologies of prominent figures such as Ambedkar, Periyar, and Kuvempu for over a decade. However, controversies have arisen in relation to his statements and activities.
On June 6, 2021, Chetan Ahimsa posted a tweet quoting Ambedkar and Periyar regarding Brahminism as an ideology,[43] which led to a complaint being filed against him by Brahmin caste groups at Basavangudi Police Station on June 7.
In February 2022, Chetan Ahimsa was arrested for his alleged comments against a Karnataka High Court judge who was hearing a hijab case.[44] The police took suo motu cognizance of his comments and arrested him, but he was later released on bail.[45]
In October 2022, another First Information Report (FIR) was filed against Chetan Ahimsa by a right-wing extremist group for stating that Buta Kola, depicted in the film Kantara, was not part of a Hindu custom.[45]
Chetan Ahimsa faced arrest again in March 2023 by the Bengaluru city police based on a complaint from a Bajrang Dal activist, accusing him of hurting religious sentiments with a tweet about Hindutva. The Karnataka Police's actions drew widespread criticism from human rights defenders for the alleged illegal arrest.[45] [46][47][48]
Furthermore, on April 14, 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs cancelled Chetan Kumar's Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status.[49]
Chetan has been actively involved in philanthropic causes for over a decade, demonstrating his commitment to various charitable initiatives.[50] Some of his notable contributions include:
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Aa Dinagalu | Chetan | Udaya Film Award for Best Debut Actor |
| 2009 | Raam | Himself | Cameo |
| 2009 | Birugaali | Hacchi | |
| 2010 | Suryakaanti | Rohith / Surya | |
| 2012 | Dashamukha | Agni | |
| 2013 | Myna | Sathyamurthy | |
| 2017 | Noorondu Nenapu | Shreyas Bahaddur | |
| 2017 | Athiratha | Akash | |
| 2021 | Ranam | Satyagrahi | |
| 2021 | Maarga† | TBA | Filming |
| 2021 | 100 Crores† | TBA | Telugu-Kannada film, Post-production[58] |
| 2021 | Kumbhakarna† | TBA | Post-Production (Kannada-Telugu film)[59] |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Udaya Film Awards | Best Actor | Aa Dinagalu | Won |