‘Kamal Haasan Not Aware of Kannada’s History’: Karnataka CM Hits Back Over Tamil Remark

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday criticised actor-politician Kamal Haasan for claiming that "Kannada is born out of Tamil", stating that the actor lacks knowledge about the rich and ancient history of the Kannada language.

"Kannada has a long-standing history," Siddaramaiah said, as quoted by ANI. "Poor Kamal Haasan, he is unaware of it."

Haasan's controversial remark was made during the audio launch of his upcoming film 'Thug Life' in Chennai, where he stated that "Tamil gave birth to Kannada." The comment triggered outrage across Karnataka, with several pro-Kannada groups staging protests in cities including Bengaluru, Belagavi, Mysuru, and Hubballi.

The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), one of the state's prominent pro-Kannada organisations, has demanded an unconditional apology from Haasan and warned of a statewide boycott of his films.

"Kamal Haasan must apologise unconditionally to the people of Karnataka for belittling our language. Until then, we will not allow his films to be screened anywhere in the state," said KRV's leader, T A Narayana Gowda.

"This isn't just about one comment-it's about preserving the identity and pride of Kannada and Kannadigas. We urge him to correct his mistake and refrain from speaking on Kannada hereafter," he added.

Political Reactions Pour In

The remark has drawn responses from political leaders as well.

Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad called Haasan's comment "unfortunate" and unnecessary, especially at a time when unity is vital.

"The Kannada language has a history of thousands of years. Kannada and Tamil are both ancient and form the cultural bedrock of our country. This kind of debate only divides people. I didn't expect Kamal Haasan to make such a statement," he said, as per ANI.

Meanwhile, DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan came to Haasan's defence, blaming the BJP for politicising the issue. He argued that the comment was likely a historical reference, not intended to insult.

"Language should be credited for how it's used, not how it was born. BJP is using this to stir controversy and divide people," Elangovan said.