Kamal Haasan Language Comment Row: Actor-royal’s Kamal Haasan’s comment that Kannada was “born out of Tamil” in a recent film program, some Karnataka groups have questioned their claims.
Speaking at the audio launch for his upcoming film ‘Thug Life’ in Chennai, Haasan shared his life Bandhan with Tamil, opening his comment: “Uyire Urave Tamizhe (My life and my family is Tamil). Addressing Kannada actor Shivarjkumar, who shared the stage with him, Hassan said, “Actor Shivarjkumar is my family who lives in another state … Your language was born from Tamil. So, you are involved in that line. ,
The moment that is probably in the form of a gesture of cultural unity, instead ignites resentment. Within a few hours, each-Kanada organization, Karnataka Rakshan Vedic (KRV), accused Haasan of leaving the Kannada language and threatening to take action against him and his upcoming film.
KRV leader Praveen Shetty said in a video statement, “Kamal Haasan said that Tamil is better than Kannada … We are warning Kamal – do you want business in Karnataka? Then stop insulting Kannada.” “Today, you were in the state and ran away. We were ready to put black ink on your face. If you continue to speak against Karnataka and Kannadigas, there will be protests. Your film will be banned.”
ಮಾತೃಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನು ಮಾತೃಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನು, ಆದರೆ ಆದರೆ ಹೆರಿನಲ ದುರಭಿಮಾನ ಸಂಸ ಸಾ ನಡವಳಿಾಗುತ್ತದೆ ನಡವಳಿಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ಲಾವಿದರಿಗೆ ಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನೂ ಸ್ಕಾರ ಇರಬೇ ಇರಬೇ. ನ್ನಡವೂ ನನ ಅನೇ ಭ ನಟಿ ನಟಿ ನಟ ನಟ @ikamalhaasan ತಮ್ಮ ತಮ್ಮ ತಮಿಳು ತಮಿಳು ನಟ ನಟ ನಟ …… pic.twitter.com/prfkx099lz
– Vijayendra Yeddyurappa (@byvijayendra) 27 May, 2025
Shetty alleged that Haasan had left Karnataka to avoid premature confrontation, saying that the film promotion could not come at the cost of regional pride. “You want to show your movies here, but insult us? Not acceptable,” he said. Baikalash soon became political. Vijayendra’s state president of Karnataka BJP called the comment “height of ego”.
“Artists should embodory the culture of respecting all languages,” he posted on social media. “It is frightening that Kamal Haasan, who has worked in many Indian languages including Kannada, has now insulted Kannada.” The dispute has been snowball since then. Boycot Call against Hassan’s films has received traction on Kannada social media channels, and the theater owners in parts of Karnataka have reported pressure from groups until Haasan apologized.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reacted to the controversy and said that Kannada language has a very long history, and Haasan is unaware of it.
Siddaramaiah told reporters, “Kannada language has a very long history.
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The storm has an old mistake line in the heart: as a language identity. In the south, where linguistic pride moves deep, any minor can wave in a complete protest.
His claims on politically charged origin were the same Dravidian origin of Tamil and Kannada – both Dravidian languages have long and distinct literary history. Linguistic studies of mainstream suggests that both Kannada and Tamil are the major languages of the Dravidian family, but they developed as separate branches from a general ancestor, known as Proto-Drawidians. Or the roots of Kannada can be detected in Proto-Dravid language just like Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.
Haasan has so far responded to the dispute.
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