(Image source from: Instagram.com/ikamalhaasan)
On Wednesday, actor and politician Kamal Haasan expressed that he has much to articulate as a Tamil individual but chose not to delve into his controversial statement about "Kannada being derived from Tamil," which sparked significant debate the previous week. At a press gathering regarding his forthcoming Tamil film, Mr. Haasan commented, "There is much more for me to address as a Tamil, beyond 'Thug Life.' I will discuss this at a later time." He also expressed gratitude towards the people of Tamil Nadu for their support. This marked his first public engagement since facing backlash from the Karnataka High Court for his earlier comments. His statement made on May 27, suggesting that Kannada originated from Tamil, led to considerable unrest in Karnataka, prompting the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce to postpone the release of his film until he offered an apology.
Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah remarked on the rich history of the Kannada language, implying Mr. Haasan's unfamiliarity with it. Additionally, BY Vijayendra, chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state, also called for an apology from the actor. Mr. Haasan, however, has stood firm in not retracting his comments or apologizing. He stated, "This is a democracy. I trust the law and the principles of justice. My affection for Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala is sincere. Only those with ulterior motives would doubt it. I have faced threats before, and I will apologize if I am wrong, but I won’t if I believe I am correct."
On Tuesday, he clarified that his comments were "misunderstood" and "taken out of context," and asserted his fluency in the "language of cinema." The High Court indicated that a straightforward apology could have averted the turmoil. Justice Nagaprasanna added, "The freedom of expression does not cover the potential to offend a large group's sentiments." He criticized the validity of Mr. Haasan's claim, asking if he is a historian or a linguist, emphasizing that no language emerges from another. The judge underscored the importance of "Water, land, and language" for citizens, noting that the very segmentation of the nation was based on linguistic distinctions.
As for 'Thug Life,' directed by Mani Ratnam, its producers informed the court that the film would not be released in Karnataka as scheduled on Thursday.
