State Chooses Tamannaah for Mysore Sandal, Kannada Fans Angry

The Karnataka government recently chose Bollywood actress Tamannaah Bhatia as the new brand ambassador for the popular Mysore Sandal Soap. This decision has led to a lot of anger and criticism on social media, especially from people in Karnataka.

Tamannaah has signed a two-year contract worth ₹6.2 crore with Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), which makes the soap. Many people are unhappy because she is not from Karnataka, and they feel that a Kannada actress should have been chosen to represent a product that is strongly connected to the state’s culture.

People on social media are asking why popular local actresses like Rashmika Mandanna, Rukmini Vasanth, or Srinidhi Shetty were not selected. A pro-Kannada group called Karnataka Rakshana Vedike even said the choice was disrespectful to the state and warned of protests if the decision is not changed.

In reply to the criticism, Minister MB Patil explained that the decision was made after talking to marketing experts. He said the goal is to make Mysore Sandal Soap more popular outside Karnataka. According to him, only 18% of the company’s earnings come from Karnataka, and the rest comes from other states and countries. So, they chose a well-known actress like Tamannaah to help expand the brand’s reach.

Even with this explanation, many people still feel the state should support local talent. The debate continues, with some people focusing on business growth, while others want to protect and promote local culture.