Kamal Haasan Says, 'Kannada Born Out Of Tamil'; Stokes Row

Tamil cinema icon Kamal Haasan has stirred controversy just weeks before the release of his latest film, 'Thug Life', following a comment made at an event in Chennai, where he suggested that the Kannada language originated from Tamil.

Opening his speech with the phrase "Uyire Urave Tamizhe"-translated as "my life and my family is Tamil language"-Haasan then addressed Kannada actor Shivarajkumar, who was in attendance, by saying, "This is my family in that place. That's why he (Shivarajkumar) has come here. That's why I began my speech saying life, relationship and Tamil. Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil, so you too are included (part of it)."

Photo Credit: PTI

The comments provoked swift backlash in Karnataka.

State BJP chief Vijayendra Yediyurappa denounced the veteran actor's statement as "uncultured" and accused him of slighting the Kannada language.

"One should love one's mother tongue, but showing disrespect in its name is uncultured behaviour. Especially artists should have the culture of respecting every language. It is the height of arrogance and arrogance that an actor @ikamalhaasan who has acted in many Indian languages, including Kannada, has insulted Kannada by including actor Shivarajkumar in the glorification of his Tamil language," said Yediyurappa.

He went on to accuse Haasan-who has previously worked in Kannada films-of forgetting the "generosity of Kannada and Kannada people" and revealing an "ungrateful personality."

"Kamal Haasan, who is supposed to bring harmony to South India, has been continuously insulting Hinduism and hurting religious sentiments for the past few years. Now, he has insulted Kannada by hurting the self-respect of 6.5 crore Kannadigas. Kamal Haasan should immediately apologise unconditionally to Kannadigas," he demanded.

Yediyurappa also stated that Haasan is not qualified to determine the origins of languages: "The actor is not a historian to define which language gave birth to which language."

He further asserted, "Let us remember Kamal Haasan, who spoke like a true sage who said that Kannadigas are not language haters, but have never sacrificed self-respect when it comes to Kannada land, language, people, water, and ideas."

The remarks have also triggered outrage among pro-Kannada organisations. Activists tore down posters of 'Thug Life' in Bengaluru and threatened to block the film's release in Karnataka.

"We are warning you that if you talk against Kannada and Kannadigas we have to ban your movie," said Praveen Shetty, leader of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike.

Haasan's 'Thug Life' is due for release on 5 June. The film marks his second collaboration with acclaimed director Mani Ratnam, nearly 40 years after their classic 'Nayakan'.