"Respect All Languages, Don’t Weaponise Them": Kamal Haasan Moves Karnataka HC Over ‘Thug Life’ Ban

Bengaluru: Veteran actor and politician Kamal Haasan has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking urgent relief after his upcoming film ‘Thug Life’ was stalled by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) following a controversy over his comments on the Kannada language.

Haasan, through his production company Rajkamal Films International, filed a petition urging the court to restrain the state government, police, and KFCC from obstructing the film’s release. The plea also requests adequate security at theatres and screening venues across Karnataka to prevent disruptions.

The controversy stems from a remark made by the actor last month at a promotional event, where he said, “Kannada was born out of Tamil.” The comment sparked widespread outrage among Kannada language advocates and political leaders.

Among the strongest critics was Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra, who demanded an apology from the actor. “One must love their mother tongue, but flaunting arrogance in its name is a mark of cultural bankruptcy. Especially for artists, it is essential to possess the ethos of respecting every language,” Vijayendra posted on X (formerly Twitter).

In response, Kamal Haasan issued a clarification, asserting that his statement had been misinterpreted and was rooted in linguistic history. He added that politicians were not suited to engage in deep debates on languages.

“What I said was out of love and from what I learned from historians. Politicians are not qualified to talk about language… that includes me,” Haasan said. “Let’s leave these discussions to historians, archaeologists, and language experts. We are a family, and so are our languages.”

The actor also reaffirmed his respect for all Indian languages and expressed hope that the matter would be resolved in a spirit of unity.