New Delhi: Tamil actor and filmmaker Kamal Haasan was taken to task by the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday (June 3) over his contentious remark claiming that “Kannada was born out of Tamil.” The comment was made during an event in Chennai and stirred widespread backlash and triggered a legal plea demanding a ban on the actor’s upcoming film Thug Life in Karnataka.
Following the controversy, a petition was filed urging the state authorities, including the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, to bar the release of the film unless an apology was issued by the actor. Despite mounting pressure from Kannada groups and political voices, an apology had been consistently withheld by Haasan, who maintained, “If I am wrong, I will apologise. If I am not, then I won’t.”
During the hearing, the court strongly criticised the actor’s stance. “There is no apology in it. You may be Kamala Hassan or anybody, you cannot hurt the sentiments of the masses,” the bench observed. It was further stated that language remains a deeply sensitive issue in India, where states are divided along linguistic lines. “A public figure cannot make such a statement. What has happened because of it is unrest, disharmony. People of Karnataka only asked apology. Now you come here seeking protection,” the court remarked.
The judges questioned Kamal’s qualifications to speak on linguistic history, asking, “On what basis have you made the statement? Are you a historian, linguist? On what basis did you speak?”
The court emphasised that the controversy could have been defused with a single gesture of remorse. “One apology would have solved everything. Rajagopalachari said something similar and apologised,” the bench added, drawing historical parallels.
Meanwhile, Kamal’s legal counsel, Chinnappa, argued that the actor’s intent had been misunderstood and that his comments had been taken out of context. “There is a difference between a person who is a victim of circumstances and a person who creates circumstances,” the lawyer said.
Still, the bench remained firm. “Maybe, but who is the reason? You are making the situation go out of control. It is your film for which you are seeking protection.”
Concluding the session, the court stated that a decision would soon be delivered on whether protection would be granted for the film’s release in Karnataka.
