Kannada Language Was Born from Tamil…” Kamal Haasan’s Controversial Statement Sparks Outrage in Karnataka

Chennai, 28th May 2025: Senior South Indian actor Kamal Haasan has once again found himself in trouble. Recently, he faced criticism for a romantic scene with Trisha Krishnan in his film Thug Life. However, this time, a statement he made has sparked a major uproar in Karnataka.

What Did Kamal Haasan Say?

Speaking at the audio release function of Thug Life, Kamal Haasan said in Tamil, “Uyire Urave Tamizhe,” which roughly translates to “My life and my affair are with Tamil.” Shiva Rajkumar, a Kannada actor, was also at the function when Kamal Haasan said this.. Referring to him, Kamal said, “Shiva Rajkumar is part of my family who lives in another state. When I say my family is Tamil, that includes you too—because your language (Kannada) was born from Tamil.”

This comment suggesting that the Kannada language originated from Tamil triggered strong reactions and was perceived as offensive by many in Karnataka.

Backlash in Karnataka

The moment the video of Kamal Haasan’s comment appeared, pro-Kannada groups reacted with outrage. His Kannada Rakshana Vedike, nonetheless, condemned him for disrespectful remarks. Protesters in a rage vandalized Thug Life posters in Bengaluru and shouted slogans against Kamal Haasan.

Praveen Shetty, head of the organization, stated, “Kamal Haasan claiming that the Kannada language was born from Tamil is incorrect and insulting. If he wants to work in Karnataka, he must avoid such statements.”

Protesters Issue Warning

Protesters warned that if Kamal Haasan repeats such comments in the future, a larger movement will be launched against him. Praveen Shetty also claimed that they had planned to throw black ink at the actor, but he left the event before they could act.

For the second time, Kamal Haasan has been in the limelight over what he said.