Kamal Haasan’s ‘Tamil-Kannada’ remark sparks firestorm in Karnataka; boycott threats loom over ‘Thug Life’

Bengaluru/Chennai: A storm of controversy has engulfed actor-politician Kamal Haasan following his recent remarks at the audio launch of his upcoming film Thug Life, where he suggested that the Kannada language was “born out of Tamil.”

The comment, though seemingly made to express cultural kinship, has been met with intense backlash across Karnataka — drawing sharp criticism from political parties, pro-Kannada groups, and social media users alike.

Speaking in Chennai at the launch event, Haasan opened his speech with the emotional phrase, “UyireUraveTamizhe” (My life and my family is Tamil), and addressed Kannada superstar Shivarajkumar as part of that extended family.

“Your language was born out of Tamil. So, you are included in that line,” Haasan said, referencing Shivarajkumar’s presence on stage.

While Haasan’s remarks may have been intended to showcase pan-South Indian cultural solidarity, they have ignited sentiments in Karnataka, where language and identity are deeply intertwined with regional pride.

Outrage across Karnataka

Pro-Kannada organizations, most notably the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), swiftly condemned the statement.

“Kamal Haasan said Tamil is better than Kannada. If he wants business in Karnataka, he should stop insulting Kannada,” said KRV president Praveen Shetty in a video address.

Warning of statewide protests, Shetty added, “Your film promotions cannot come at the cost of our language and pride. We are prepared to protest, even ban your film.”

Social media platforms have seen a groundswell of outrage, with hashtags like #BoycottThugLife and #ApologizeKamal trending among Kannada users. Some theatre owners in Karnataka have reportedly received pressure not to screen Thug Life unless Haasan issues a public clarification.

Political firestorm

The controversy has taken a political turn, with both the BJP and Congress leaders in Karnataka slamming Haasan. BJP state president B Y Vijayendra denounced the remarks as “the height of arrogance,” accusing Haasan of “uncultured behaviour.”

“One should love one’s mother tongue, but showing disrespect in its name is uncultured,” Vijayendra posted on X.

“Kamal Haasan is not a historian to define which language gave birth to which language. He has insulted Kannada and hurt the sentiments of 6.5 crore Kannadigas,” he added.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, responding to media queries, took a swipe at Haasan’s linguistic claims: “Poor Kamal Haasan, he is unaware of Kannada’s rich and long-standing history.”

A clash of culture, not just words

Linguists note that both Tamil and Kannada are part of the ancient Dravidian language family, with roots in Proto-Dravidian. While related, the languages evolved independently over centuries, each with its own script, literature, and distinct identity.

The core of the backlash lies not in linguistic facts but in the perception of disrespect.

For many Kannadigas, Haasan’s words, however well-intended, were viewed as diminishing the stature of Kannada in favour of Tamil — a move seen as tone-deaf amid growing regional assertiveness in language politics.

Silence from Haasan

As of this writing, Kamal Haasan has not responded publicly to the backlash. The silence has only deepened the outrage among critics, who see it as a refusal to acknowledge the hurt caused.

Protest threats, ink attacks, and film bans continue to loom unless an apology or clarification is issued.

With Thug Life slated for a wide release, including in Karnataka, Haasan and his team face a tough balancing act between damage control and preserving the film’s pan-India appeal.