Karnataka HC BLASTS Kamal Haasan For ‘Kannada Born From Tamil’ Remark; Demand Apology Saying, “Are You A Historian, Linguist?”

On Tuesday, the Karnataka High Court heavily slammed actor Kamal Haasan while hearing a petition filed by Raajkamal Films International – the makers of Thug Life, seeking the release and screening of his upcoming film Thug Life in the state. Scroll below to know all they said.

Karnataka HC Slams Kamal Haasan

As reported by several news portals, Justice M Nagaprasanna questioned Kamal Haasan’s refusal to apologise for his ‘Kannada born from Tamil’ statement, given that it had hurt the sentiments of the public. The judge was noted saying, “You (Kamal Haasan) have no right to hurt the sentiments. In this country, Jala (water), Nela (land), and Bhashe (language) are dear to people. What did the people of Karnataka ask for? An apology? There is no apology or an explanation. It is all a circumstance created by Kamal Haasan.”

The judge, while criticising the actor’s stance and remark questioned his responsibility as a public figure. He said, “No language can be born out of another. Where is the material to support this (claim)? And what has happened? Disharmony. And what have the people of Karnataka asked? (Only) an apology.” Justice Nagaprasanna also questioned Haasan’s claim stating, “The circumstances were created by Kamal Haasan, and he has said he will not apologise? You have undermined the sentiment of the people of Karnataka … On what basis? Are you a historian? Or a linguist?”

HC: If You Won’t Apologise, Why Do You Want The Film To Run In Karnataka?

Senior advocate Dhyan Chinappa = who appeared on behalf of the petitioner and representing the film’s producer, submitted that the actor’s controversial statement could be viewed by the court just once. He added that it was not intended to offend or that it was not so drastically wrong. To this, Justice Nagaprasanna responded, “(If you won’t apologise) Why do you want the film to run in Karnataka? Leave it. Freedom of expression cannot be stretched to hurting sentiments of a mass. You apologise, then no problem. You want to earn some crores from Karnataka also.”

The court also questioned the actor’s decision to seek protection from the police despite having caused the unrest. “Now you are here for a commercial interest, that police should protect for a situation created by you! One apology would have solved everything. In law, we will consider. But look at the attitude!”

The court also observed that Kamal Haasan could have issued a clarification, saying, ‘I have made a statement without looking into the history.’ Recalling a similar incident that took place in 1970, the judge said, “Rajagopal Acharya had apologised for a similar statement decades ago. Language is a sentiment attached to people. You have said something to undermine that.”

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Grinell Jacinto

With nearly 10 years of experience, Grinell Esther Jacinto is the Desk Head of Bollywood Bubble. Her interests lie in everything that is kaleshi and she loves to dig deeper into the lives of B-town actors. She has a problem though – she loves horror films but will have chills the minute the theatres lights dims. She’s previously worked with Koimoi, UrbanAsian and SpotboyE.