Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan is once again in the spotlight for his statements. Responding on Friday, May 30, 2025, to the controversy surrounding his recent comments on the Kannada language, he unequivocally stated that he will not apologize if he is not wrong.
Kannad Language Row: On May 30, 2025, veteran actor and politician Kamal Haasan broke his silence on the controversy sparked by his remarks on the Kannada language, stating that he sees no need to apologize if he hasn't made a mistake. Haasan came under fire from certain groups in Karnataka following a statement made during an event in Chennai, where he asserted that "the Kannada language originated from Tamil." This reignited the debate surrounding language politics in South India.
What was the statement, and how did the controversy begin?
During a promotional event for his upcoming film, Thug Life, Haasan made a comment about the historical evolution of languages. He stated that several languages originated from Tamil, including Kannada. This statement ignited the controversy. A regional organization in Belgaum district of Karnataka, called Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, deemed the statement offensive to the Kannada language and its culture.
In protest, they demonstrated outside INOX cinemas and demanded an apology from Haasan. Political parties also reacted; the BJP accused Haasan of insulting the Kannada language, while the Congress stated that Haasan lacked awareness of Kannada's rich heritage.
Kamal Haasan's clarification: 'Learned about language history'
Speaking to the media in Thiruvananthapuram for the first time since the controversy erupted, Haasan said, "What I said was based on historical accounts. I did not intend to hurt anyone's sentiments. I have learned about the evolution of languages from several historians, and I shared that information." He further added, "This is a democracy; everyone has the freedom of speech. But if I am speaking the truth and there is no factual inaccuracy, then there is no question of apologizing."
He stated, "I believe in the law and the constitution, and if my words have offended anyone, I am ready to offer an explanation, but I will only apologize if I have genuinely made a mistake."
Mention of threats
Haasan also revealed that he had received several threats following his statement. He described this as unfortunate, saying, "Such threats only stifle dialogue and push society backward." He appealed for the language issue to be addressed with facts and research, rather than emotion.
Describing Tamil Nadu as a state that welcomes diversity, Haasan praised Tamil Nadu's pluralistic culture, stating, "Tamil Nadu has always been a state that embraces external communities. Our Chief Ministers have come from diverse linguistic and ethnic backgrounds—MGR was a Menon, Rama sami Reddiar was from the Reddiar community, Karunanidhi was a Tamil Vadi, and a Kannada Iyengar has also served as Chief Minister."
