Chennai: Tamil cinema icon Kamal Haasan has found himself at the centre of a fresh controversy following his remarks on the Tamil and Kannada languages during an event in Chennai.
In his address, Haasan praised Tamil passionately, beginning with “Uyire Urave Tamizhe” — translating to “My life and my family is Tamil.” He went on to say that Kannada “was born out of Tamil,” while addressing Kannada actor Shivarajkumar, suggesting that their linguistic and cultural roots are intertwined.
His comment, however, drew sharp criticism. The BJP’s Karnataka unit accused Haasan of belittling the Kannada language in the name of glorifying Tamil. State BJP chief Vijayendra Yediyurappa condemned the remarks, calling them “uncultured” and “arrogant,” especially coming from an actor who has worked in multiple Indian languages, including Kannada.
“An artist should uphold respect for all languages,” Yediyurappa posted on X, further accusing Haasan of repeatedly insulting Hindu sentiments and South Indian harmony.
He demanded a public apology from the actor, stating that his comment had “hurt the pride of 6.5 crore Kannadigas.”
In response, pro-Kannada groups erupted in protest, threatening to ban Haasan’s upcoming film in Karnataka. Demonstrators tore his movie posters in parts of Bengaluru, expressing anger over what they viewed as a slight to Kannada identity.
The controversy has reignited sensitivities around language pride and regional identity in South India.
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