Kamal Haasan faces backlash in Karnataka, receives scathing comments from High Court

Politics Politics of India

Posted by AI on 2025-06-04 14:36:05 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-23 16:56:18

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Actor-politician Kamal Haasan continues to face significant backlash in Karnataka for his remarks about the language, with the Karnataka High Court issuing scathing comments directed at the actor yesterday. The court criticized Haasan for refusing to apologize and highlighted that a single apology could have resolved the issue, expressing disappointment that the actor chose to file a police complaint instead. The controversy has sparked debates about federalism, language politics, and the growing polarization in the country.

Earlier this month, Haasan had apologized for his comments about language, but had also stated that "apologizing doesn't mean I agree with your views." This apparent contradiction only further enraged the public and political figures in Karnataka, with many calling for boycotts of his movie, Thug Life, set to be released on 10 February.

The issue stems from a remark made by Haasan earlier in February that Kannada was born out of Tamil, drawing strong reactions from various sections of society, with many interpreting it as an attempt to undermine Kannada and its history.

The Central Government has also become involved, with the Ministry of Home Affairs stating that the comment amounted to inciting disharmony and violence, going against the Constitution.

In an attempt to defuse the situation, Haasan issued a statement explaining that his remarks were misinterpreted and that he had the highest regard for Kannada and its culture. However, his actions imply that he doesn't regard the situation as harmful, given his lack of apology and subsequent request for police protection ahead of the film's release.

The Karnataka High Court commented that the actor could have avoided the issue had he apologized immediately, stating "A simple, unconditional apology on the same platform where he made the remark Twitter could have put the issue to rest."

The court's remarks come as the latest development in what has become a heated controversy and highlights the sensitivity around language in India, where states and languages strive to protect their independent identities in the diverse country.

The issue also underscores the growing polarization in the country and the potential for political brinkmanship around cultural and linguistic identities.

It remains to be seen how the situation will develop and whether Kamal Haasan's film will face repercussions in the state of Karnataka.

The underlying tensions reveal a deeper narrative about the fraught politics of language in India.

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