Kamal Haasan, who is busy promoting his upcoming film Thug Life with filmmaker Mani Ratnam, has found himself in the middle of a controversy. His comment that Kannada language was born out of Tamil sparked backlash on social media, with many netizens even wanting to boycott his new film. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has now demanded an apology from the actor over his remark and threatened him of banning Thug Life in Karnataka.
KFCC president M Narasimhalu said, “Many Kannada groups have demanded a ban on his movie. So, we met and discussed the matter, and we’ve decided that he should apologise. We agree that what he did was wrong, and we are trying to meet and talk to him.”
KFCC former president Sa Ra Govindu further added, “We have no sympathy for Kamal Haasan. If he does not issue a public apology today or tomorrow, we will support Kannada activists and will protest fiercely. Under no circumstances will we allow the film’s release unless he apologises publicly.”
In a recent interview, Kamal Haasan issued a clarification on his comment over the Kannada language. “I think what I said was said with a lot of love. Historians have taught me the language history…I didn’t mean anything. And, let me tell you, Tamil Nadu is a place which has been open. I don’t say there is no other state like this. But a very rare state where a Menon (MG Ramachandran) has been our Chief Minister…a Reddy (Omandur Ramasamy Reddiyar) has been our Chief Minister, a Tamilian (M Karunanidhi) has been our Chief Minister and then a Kannadiga Iyengar has been our CM from Mandya,” the actor said as quoted by PTI.
He further added, “So let’s leave all these very in-depth discussions to historians, archaeologists and language experts. If you look at it from the northern point of view, according to them it is right, if you look at it from Thenkumari (south), then what I say is right. There is a third angle to it– the scholars, the language experts. This is not an answer, an explanation. Love will never apologise.”
Meanwhile, Thug Life also stars Trisha, Silambarasan, Abhirami, Sanya Malhotra, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Rohit Saraf and Vaiyapuri.
