In the face of mounting furor over his recent comment regarding the origin of the Kannada language, actor Kamal Haasan on Tuesday told the Karnataka High Court that his new film Thug Life will not be screened in the state for the moment.
Haasan remained firm in his refusal to offer a formal apology, however, insisting through his lawyers that his intent was pure.
The controversy arose from Haasan's statement made during the Chennai audio release of Thug Life on May 24, in which he stated that "Kannada was born out of Tamil." The Karnataka High Court took a strong exception to the statement, remarking that while Haasan is a well-known public figure, he cannot afford to hurt the feelings of the people of Karnataka. The court further added that a mere apology would have ended the issue immediately.
Senior counsel Dhyan Chinappa, who appeared for Haasan and his production company Raajkamal Films International, informed the bench headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna that the release of the film in Karnataka would be stayed until further negotiations with the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), which has proscribed the film and requested an apology.
Chinappa argued that a written message sent earlier that day by Haasan to the KFCC—expressing his admiration and respect for Kannada and its people—should suffice. “There is no malice in his remarks. Apologies are warranted only when there is ill intent,” said Chinappa, emphasizing that Haasan had spoken in goodwill and had only expressed “affection and admiration.”
However, the bench remained unconvinced. Justice Nagaprasanna observed that Haasan’s refusal to apologise outright had intensified the controversy. “Discretion is the better part of valour,” the judge said, quoting Shakespeare. “You are not an ordinary citizen. As a public figure, your words matter. You’ve stirred unrest and now seek protection from the state, yet won’t utter a single word that could calm the situation?”
The court also faulted the tone of Haasan's letter to KFCC as being one more in the nature of a justification than an attempt at conciliation. The judge also cited a historical example whereby C. Rajagopalachari, then India's last Governor General, had also made the same claim about the origins of Kannada in Tamil in 1950 but then apologized when corrected by Kannada scholars. "Even Rajagopalachari apologised.". This statement does not even have a line like, 'If I have hurt anyone's sentiments, I apologise,' the court said.
The bench has fixed the matter for further hearing on June 10 and issued notices to the Karnataka government and the KFCC.
At the same time, Chinappa called for cultural solidarity, remembering instances in the past such as in 2018, when Rajinikanth was involved in a case and the Cauvery water issue, where protests broke out before Kaala's release. Although Rajinikanth apologized at that time, Chinappa mentioned that it came only after interim relief was ordered by the court.
Justice Nagaprasanna replied by highlighting the strength of an apology with the words: "There are many ways to justify a mistake. But there is only one way to apologise."
The issue has also assumed political overtones. Karnataka's Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi had previously written to the KFCC calling for a state-wide prohibition on all Haasan movies unless he apologized. "The Karnataka people cannot digest such statements about their language, soil, and water," the minister declared.
Reacting to the high court case, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar declared: "If Kamal Haasan erred, he should apologize. The court will decide the next step."
Seasoned BJP leader B.S. Yediyurappa also called for Haasan to apologize humbly. "Such conduct upsets harmony and oneness. An apology doesn't lower one's stature, but arrogance definitely doesn't make it grow," he tweeted on X.
As protests rage on throughout Karnataka and mounting pressure is put on the actor, the fate of the film in the state is now uncertain, awaiting further court hearings and potential reconciliatory attempts.
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