A controversy has erupted in Karnataka following remarks by actor-politician Kamal Haasan that “Kannada was born out of Tamil.” Clarifying his remarks, he said that his comments on Kannada were said out of love and that “love never apologises”.
The actor-politician’s response, which he describes as an “explanation” and not an “answer,” came hours after his statement drew sharp reactions from Kannada groups and political leaders, including Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
“I think what I said was said with a lot of love. Historians have taught me the language’s history…I didn’t mean anything,” Haasan said.
He also said Tamil Nadu is a “rare state” which has been open to anyone. “And, let me tell you, Tamil Nadu is a place which has been open. I don’t say there is no other state like this. But a very rare state where a Menon (MG Ramachandran) has been our Chief Minister…a Reddy (Omandur Ramasamy Reddiyar) has been our Chief Minister, a Tamilian (M Karunanidhi) has been our Chief Minister and then a Kannadiga Iyengar has been our CM from Mandya,” news agency PTI quoted the star as saying.
Siddaramaiah criticised the actor’s comments, made during the audio launch of his film Thug Life in Chennai. “Kannada has a long and well-documented history. Poor Kamal Haasan. He is simply unaware of it,” the Karnataka CM told reporters on Wednesday.
What Haasan said
Haasan, sharing the stage with Kannada actor Shivarajkumar, said, “Your language was born out of Tamil. So, you are included in that line.” What seemed like an attempt at fostering cultural unity quickly sparked outrage across Karnataka. Several pro-Kannada organisations, including the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), condemned the statement and launched protests in cities like Bengaluru, Mysuru, Belagavi, and Hubballi. Demonstrators burned Haasan’s posters and raised slogans demanding an apology.
KRV leader Praveen Shetty warned Haasan against belittling Kannada and threatened to obstruct the screening of Thug Life if he failed to apologise. “You want to show your movies here, but insult us? Not acceptable,” he said.
What politicians said
Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra accused Haasan of “disrespecting Kannada to glorify his own mother tongue” and demanded an unconditional apology. “Artists should embody the culture of respecting all languages,” he posted on social media.
Several Kannada organisations took to the streets in cities like Bengaluru, Belagavi, Hubballi, and Mysuru, expressing outrage and demanding an apology.
The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) issued a stern warning to Haasan. “He must apologise unconditionally for insulting our language. Until then, we will not allow his films to be screened in Karnataka,” said KRV leader T A Narayana Gowda.
“This isn’t just about one careless remark. It’s about respecting Kannada’s identity and the sentiments of Kannadigas. Haasan should correct his statement and refrain from making further comments about Kannada,” Gowda added.
Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraja Tangadagi demanded Haasan apologise. “If he doesn’t apologise, we will write to the Kannada Film Chambers to ban his new movie in Karnataka. There is no compromise when it is about state or language,” he added.
Both Kannada and Tamil are distinct branches of the Dravidian language family, tracing their roots back to the proto-Dravidian language. Scholars say that while the two languages share ancestral links, they evolved independently over centuries with rich literary traditions.
The controversy comes just as Hassan’s party, the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), has just secured a Rajya Sabha seat as part of its alliance with the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu.
Responding to the controversy on Wednesday, Kamal Haasan to News18 said that he never intended to offend anyone and stood by his words.
Stating that he would not apologise for something that was said out of love, Haasan said, “My statement was misinterpreted. What I said was said out of love, with a lot of historians teaching me language history. Politicians are not qualified on talking about language matters, and that includes me.”
News18 reported that Haasan also recalled the support he had received from Karnataka during a difficult time in Chennai. “Karnataka stood by me when I faced problems in Chennai,” he said.
(With inputs from Kiran Parashar and PTI)
“Kannada has a very long history... He (Kamal Haasan) doesn't know,” Siddaramaiah said. 
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