Veteran actor and politician Kamal Haasan has found himself in the middle of a linguistic and political controversy after asserting that the Kannada language “was born from Tamil” during a promotional event for his film Thug Life in Bengaluru.
Haasan, addressing the audience with the Tamil phrase “Uyire Urave Tamizhe” (“My life and soul is Tamil”), referred to Kannada star Shivarajkumar as “family from another state” and controversially added, “Your language Kannada was born from Tamil. So you are included in that.”
The statement ignited backlash from Kannada activists and political figures, including Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra, who blasted Haasan for linguistic chauvinism. Vijayendra stated that while affection for one’s native tongue is natural, using it to diminish another language’s identity reflects “arrogance and insensitivity.” He demanded an unconditional apology and reminded Haasan of the Kannada film industry’s support throughout his career.
Vijayendra also accused Haasan of having a history of hurting religious sentiments and now insulting Kannadiga pride, asserting Kannada’s 2,500-year-old legacy and global cultural stature.
Pro-Kannada group Karnataka Rakshana Vedike joined the protest, warning of consequences if Haasan doesn’t publicly retract his statement.
The controversy highlights how linguistic identity remains a deeply emotional and political issue in India’s southern states, where cultural pride runs deep and inter-state sensitivities are often close to the surface.
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