KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 — Malaysia’s multicultural landscape and long-established Tamil community have helped keep the Tamil language and cinema alive far beyond India, said popular South Indian actor-turned-politician Vijay.

Addressing close to 80,000 people who turned up at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium here on Saturday for the audio launch of his upcoming 69th film Jana Nayagan, Vijay, 51, said Malaysia stood out among overseas markets not only for the size of its audience, but also for its ability to preserve Tamil culture within a diverse, multilingual society.