A linguistic storm has erupted between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu following veteran actor Kamal Haasan’s remark that “Kannada is born out of Tamil,” made during the audio launch of his upcoming film Thug Life in Chennai.
Reacting sharply, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismissed the claim, stating:
“Poor Kamal Haasan, he is unaware of the long-standing history of Kannada.”
His comments come amid growing outrage across Karnataka. Pro-Kannada organisations such as the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) have staged protests in Bengaluru, Belagavi, Mysuru, and Hubballi, accusing Haasan of disrespecting the Kannada language.
KRV leader T.A. Narayana Gowda issued a stern warning:
“Until Kamal Haasan issues an unconditional public apology, his films will not be allowed to screen in Karnataka. This is not just about a statement—it’s about safeguarding our identity.”
Karnataka Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad echoed the sentiment, calling Haasan’s remarks “unfortunate”:
“Both Kannada and Tamil are ancient, foundational languages. We should be promoting unity, not sowing division through unnecessary debates.”
In contrast, DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan defended Haasan, blaming the BJP for allegedly politicizing the remark:
“It’s being misrepresented. He was referring to historical linguistic evolution, not demeaning Kannada. This is yet another attempt to divide people.”
The tension stems from the deeply rooted cultural pride both Tamil and Kannada speakers hold. While Tamil is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s oldest living languages, Kannada too has a rich, independent literary and historical tradition dating back over 2,500 years, with inscriptions in Halegannada (Old Kannada) from the 5th century.
As of now, Kamal Haasan has not issued a clarification or apology, intensifying calls for a boycott. His party, Makkal Needhi Maiam, has also remained silent on the issue.
