Unshaken by protests from Kannada organisations, Tamil actor and politician Kamal Haasan on Friday refused to apologise for his recent remarks stating that “Kannada was born out of Tamil”, a comment that has stirred controversy in Karnataka.
Speaking to reporters outside the DMK headquarters (Anna Arivalayam) after meeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, Kamal Haasan reaffirmed his stance, saying:
“This is a democratic country. I believe in law and justice. I believe love will always triumph… If I am wrong, I will apologise. If I am not, then I won’t.”
The Controversy:
- At a recent promotional event for his upcoming film Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, Kamal welcomed Kannada superstar Shiva Rajkumar as his “own brother.”
- During the event, he remarked that Tamil was the mother of Kannada, triggering a backlash from Kannada groups, who demanded an apology.
- Kannada organisations have threatened to block the release of Thug Life in Karnataka.
Kamal’s Response:
- He emphasized that the comment stemmed from his “love for Kannada” and the Dravidian cultural bond, not from linguistic chauvinism.
- He reiterated his respect for all southern states, stating: “My love for Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala is true. Nobody will suspect it except those who have an agenda.”
Political Context:
- Kamal Haasan is poised to enter the Rajya Sabha in July, backed by the DMK.
- When asked about his past criticisms of the DMK (after launching Makkal Needhi Maiam in 2018), he said, “I have joined the DMK alliance for the nation’s good.”
Tamil Nadu’s Reaction:
- Several political leaders in Tamil Nadu endorsed Kamal’s view, including:
- Thol. Thirumavalavan (VCK): “Many scholars have accepted Tamil as the mother of all Dravidian languages including Kannada, Malayalam, and Telugu.”
- Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) leaders echoed similar sentiments, saying it’s “difficult to accept the truth.”
Background:
Linguistic debates between Tamil and Kannada speakers have often flared up, rooted in deep historical, cultural, and political contexts. While many linguists acknowledge Tamil as one of the oldest living languages, the evolution of Dravidian languages is still an area of scholarly debate, with varied interpretations.
Despite the tensions, Kamal Haasan has refused to walk back his words, positioning himself as a voice of Dravidian pride, banking on both his cinematic and political identity.
What’s Next:
The focus will now shift to whether the Karnataka film industry or authorities take action against the release of Thug Life, and how Kamal Haasan navigates the dual role of actor and parliamentarian amidst a growing pan-south Indian identity debate.
