Are you a historian? HC Pulls Up Kamal Haasan for Kannada remark

Taking a stern view on Kamal Haasan’s “Kannada was born out of Tamil" remark, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday rapped the actor, asked the actor the basis of his claims, and said that his “one apology would have solved everything".

The court’s remarks came while hearing a petition seeking direction to authorities, including the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, who warned of banning the actor’s film “Thug Life" in the state.

Ever since Haasan made the remark at an event in Chennai, he has been facing protests and warnings to apologise, however, the actor refused to apologise, stating, “If I am wrong, I will apologise. If I am not, then I won’t." This led to the situation getting escalated as the Karnataka Film Chamber warned that his new film, ‘Thug Life’, would not see a release in the state unless he apologises for his remark. This prompted Haasan to move High Court.

Slamming Haasan for his remark, Justice M Nagaprasanna asked if he was a historian or a linguist. He also stressed that the petitioner may be an actor, but does not have the right to hurt the sentiments of people.

“There is no apology in it. You may be Kamala Hassan or anybody, you cannot hurt the sentiments of the masses. The division of this country is on linguistic lines. A public figure cannot make such a statement. What has happened because of it unrest and disharmony. The people of Karnataka only asked for an apology. Now you come here seeking protection. On what basis have you made the statement? Are you a historian or linguist? On what basis did you speak?" the court said.

The court 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 Haasan could have issued a clarification, saying, “I have made a statement without looking into the history.” Recalling a similar incident, 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.”

The High Court made these observations while hearing the petition, but is yet to issue a ruling on the petition, although has asked Haasan to consider apologising.

Posters in Chennai

Meanwhile, actor Kamal Haasan’s party Makkal Needhi Mayiam (MNM) has put up posters across Chennai backing their leader. The posters, displayed across prominent Chennai locations, feature slogans in Tamil defending Haasan’s position: “He said what’s known to the world”, “He said what the relationship was between two (languages)”, “Love will never apologise” and “Truth will never bow down its head”.