Kamal Haasan's birthday on November 7 is a day of celebration for his fans. But this year, the actor has urged them to skip the celebrations.

In a letter addressed to all the members and card holders of "our welfare association," the actor appealed to them to "refrain" from any celebration.

The reason he says is that "an individual's birthday loses credence or importance when genocide is practiced in our neighbouring island with renewed vigour." He was referring to the on-going conflict in Sri Lanka [Images].

He further wrote in his letter, "Human civilization is 10,000 years old. It is not a job completed but a work in progress. Wars around the world are clear indications of this fact. Language, colour, caste or creed can no more be used as excuses for intolerance."

He admitted that though he was not qualified to offer solutions to the Sri Lankan problem, he "was sensible enough to refrain and restrain you from celebrations."

He also requested his fans to redirect their energies and enthusiasm towards human compassion on his birthday.

He ended the letter thus: "Many are dying for a reason so unbelievably simple. They speak the same language "Tamil" as I do. If my birthday can be used as a tiny fulcrum to leverage public opinion against this genocide, apart from the honour of gaining your love, I would have one more reason to be proud of my birth."