Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday criticised Tamil actor-politician Kamal Haasan for his controversial remark suggesting that the Kannada language originated from Tamil, calling the comment a reflection of the actor’s ignorance of Kannada’s rich and independent history.
“Kamal Haasan is unaware of Kannada’s long-standing history,” Siddaramaiah said, according to the media agency. “Poor Kamal Haasan, he is unaware of it.”
The controversy broke out after Haasan, speaking at the audio launch of his upcoming film Thug Life in Chennai, claimed that “Tamil gave birth to Kannada.” The statement has sparked a political and cultural row in Karnataka, where several pro-Kannada groups staged protests across cities such as Bengaluru, Belagavi, Mysuru and Hubballi.
The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), one of the state’s most vocal pro-Kannada organisations, reacted strongly, demanding an unconditional apology from Haasan. The group warned that his films would be boycotted across the state if he failed to retract the remark.
“Kamal Haasan must apologise unconditionally to the people of Karnataka for belittling our language. Until then, we will not permit his movies to be screened anywhere in the state,” said KRV leader T.A. Narayana Gowda while speaking to reporters.
“This is not just about one comment—it’s about respecting the identity of Kannada and Kannadigas. We urge him to correct his mistake and remain silent on Kannada hereafter,” Gowda added.
Political leaders also weighed in on the matter. Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad expressed disappointment at Haasan’s statement, calling it “unfortunate.”
“What kind of a debate is this? Kannada has a history of thousands of years. Both Kannada and Tamil are ancient languages and part of the country’s foundation,” Arshad said. “Is this debate necessary at a time when unity is needed? I did not expect Kamal Haasan to make such a statement.”
Meanwhile, DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan came to Haasan’s defence, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicising the matter.
He suggested that Haasan's remark was likely a historical reference rather than an intentional insult, adding that the value of a language lies in how it is used, not where it originated.
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