A complaint has been filed against veteran actor Kamal Haasan for his controversial "Kannada was born from Tamil" remark by pro-Kannada group, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), in Bengaluru. For those unversed, during the promotions of his upcoming film Thug Life, the actor sparked controversy after he stated at an event in Chennai that Kannada was "born out of" Tamil language.
This did not go down well with people of Karnataka, who threatened to blacken the actor's face and boycott him in their state. After protesting against his statement and demanding an apology, legal action has also been taken against Kamal.
According to a report in India Today, KRV president Praveen Shetty, in the complaint, called the actor's statement 'unlawful' and said that it goes against the harmony between the two states. The complaint was filed on Wednesday (May 28) at RM Nagar Police Station in Bengaluru.
Kamal Haasan refuses to apologise
Meanwhile, the actor broke his silence on the controversy and while interacting with media persons recently, he said that his comment was "misinterpreted" and that he had said it "out of love". He also maintained that he will not apologise for his statement.
"I will not apologise for something I said out of love," he said, adding that a lot of historians have taught him language history. "Politicians are not qualified on talking about language issues, and that includes me," the 70-year-old actor added, according to PTI.
During the media interaction, he also stated how Tamil Nadu has always been an inclusive state. "It is a very rare state where a Menon has been Chief Minister, a Reddy has been CM, and even a Kannadiga has served as CM." Having said that, he mentioned how Karnataka and Kannadigas came to his aid in his time of need. "Karnataka stood by me when I faced problems in Chennai," he said.
What is the controversy?
Kamal Haasan found himself at the centre of a controversy following remarks made during the audio launch of Thug Life. While praising the Tamil language and culture, he had said, "My life and my family is Tamil language. Actor Shivarajkumar is my family living in another state. That’s why he is here. That’s why when I started my speech, I said ‘my life and my family is Tamil.’ Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil. So you are included in that line."
The statement did not go down well with many in Karnataka. Several Kannadigas interpreted it as an affront to their language and cultural identity, sparking backlash.
Protests soon erupted across parts of Karnataka, with pro-Kannada activists taking to the streets in Bengaluru. Visuals showed protestors tearing down posters of Thug Life and raising slogans against the veteran actor. The groups demanded an unconditional apology from Haasan, accusing him of disrespecting the Kannada language. Some protestors even issued threats to blacken his face and enforce a complete boycott of the actor in the state.
On Wednesday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reacted to the controversy and said, "He (Kamal Haasan) is unaware of the history of Kannada. Kannada has a long-standing history. Poor Kamal Haasan, he is unaware of it."
