Kamal Haasan Faces Backlash For Comments Linking Kannada To Tamil At Thug Life Event

Kamal Haasan Faces Backlash Over Kannada Remark: Actor and politician Kamal Haasan has drawn strong criticism from pro-Kannada groups and political figures in Karnataka following his recent remarks at a film event in Chennai, where he suggested that the Kannada language originated from Tamil.

According to a report by The Indian Express, the comments were made during the audio launch of Thug Life, Kamal Haasan's upcoming Tamil film directed by Mani Ratnam. Addressing the crowd, and specifically Kannada actor Shivarajkumar who was also in attendance as a guest, Kamal Haasan stated, "Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil," adding that this makes Shivarajkumar part of his extended Tamil family. He began his speech with the phrase "Uyire Urave Tamizhe" (Tamil, my life and my family), reinforcing his emotional ties to his mother tongue.

The statement triggered backlash from some Kannada activists and political leaders. Posters of Thug Life were torn down by pro-Kannada organisations in Bengaluru as a sign of protest. Critics argued that Kamal Haasan's claim undermined Kannada's independent and ancient linguistic identity.

BJP leader demands apology from Kamal Haasan over Kannada remarks

Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa reacted sharply on social media. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he described Kamal Haasan's remarks as "uncultured" and said the actor was not qualified to speak on language history. He demanded an unconditional apology to the people of Karnataka, stating that Kannada holds a respected place among the world's languages and should not be diminished in the name of linguistic pride.

Yediyurappa accused Kamal Haasan of fostering division instead of harmony in South India and reminded him of his past work in Kannada cinema, urging him not to forget the goodwill he once received from Kannada audiences.

As of now, Kamal Haasan has not issued a public statement in response to the controversy. Whether this dispute will affect the reception of Thug Life, set for release on June 5, 2025, remains to be seen.