Latest news with #UyireUraveTamizhe
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Better sue than ‘sorry': The Kamal Haasan row fits the filmmaker's script
'The one who knows to forgive is a great person; the one who knows to ask for forgiveness is an even greater person.' Kamal Haasan, the filmmaker, made this dialogue famous in Virumandi, a 2004 Tamil movie written and directed by him. But can Kamal Haasan, the politician, live by it? That is what many are wondering as a row over a remark by Haasan regarding Kannada – and his refusal to apologise for the same – blows up, threatening his forthcoming release, putting an ally party in a spot, and on Tuesday, earning him a reprimand from the Karnataka High Court. The storm has also cast a cloud over Haasan's entry into the Rajya Sabha, a much-awaited political dream of the actor that is finally within reach. The controversy began last week at the audio launch of Thug Life, the Haasan film scheduled for a June 5 release, in Chennai. In a moment ironically meant to signal cultural unity, Haasan said: 'Uyire Urave Tamizhe', or 'My life and my family is Tamil.' He then turned to Kannada actor Shiva Rajkumar, who was present at the launch, and added: 'Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil. So you are included in this.' Soon, there were protests in Karnataka, where any presumed insult to Kannada is a lightning rod. The fact that the subject of the remarks, Shiva Rajkumar, is the son of the late Kannada matinee idol Rajkumar didn't help. Pro-Kannada organizations like the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike called for a boycott of the Haasan film, unless he tendered an unconditional apology. Haasan refused, and Raajkamal Films International, the production company in which he is a director, opted instead to go to the Karnataka High Court seeking police protection for the film's release. On Tuesday, the court pulled up the filmmaker instead. 'You may be Kamal Haasan, but any citizen has no right to hurt the sentiments of the masses,' Justice M. Nagaprasanna said, adding: 'One apology would have solved everything… Now you have come to court seeking protection from a situation you created.' The court did not take kindly to the filmmaker's defence that 'An apology is required where there is malice.' 'That is ego… Freedom of expression cannot be stretched to hurt someone's sentiments,' Justice Nagaprasanna said. In a letter made public Tuesday, Haasan did express regret, but stopped short of an apology. 'It pains me that my statement at the Thug Life audio launch – spoken out of genuine affection for the legendary Dr Rajkumar's family – has been misunderstood and taken out of context,' he wrote. 'Like Tamil, Kannada has a proud literary and cultural tradition that I have long admired…I never have been, nor would I ever want to, give room for public unrest and animosity.' However, those familiar with Haasan's public life are not surprised, with the actor who is known for his bold, unconventional and often brilliant choices on screen, bearing the same unapologetic, defiant, confident stance off it – often not the most prudent course. This is one reason his political career has been marked by several missteps. He launched his own party, the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), in 2018, vowing to fight corruption, denouncing the state's Dravidian parties, and promising a third front. A year later, the MNM contested all the seats in Tamil Nadu in the Lok Sabha elections, and while it didn't win any, managed a decent performance in some urban areas. In 2021, the MNM contested the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, and again didn't win any seat, getting only 2.52% of the votes. Soon, its top leaders quit – including officers-turned-politicians from the bureaucracy to police, as well as party vice-presidents and candidates. Among those who rebelled was Haasan's right-hand man R Mahendran, who accused him of ignoring the grassroots and relying on 'corporate-style consultants'. Haasan dismissed the exodus, likening it to removing weeds from a garden. In 2024, Haasan hitched his party to the DMK-led ruling front in Tamil Nadu, having seemingly overcome his reservations regarding both the DMK and AIADMK being 'symbols of Dravidian decline'. Now, he is set to go to the Upper House in Parliament with the DMK's support. V Jayadevan, a veteran linguist who was a professor of Tamil at the University of Madras, said Haasan's logic regarding the Tamil-Kannada connection was flawed. 'Proto-Dravidian is the common ancestral language from which Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam evolved. While Tamil retains many features of Proto-Dravidian, it is inaccurate to claim that Kannada emerged from Tamil. That's a misreading,' he told The Indian Express. Jayadevan added: 'Robert Caldwell, who pioneered comparative studies of Dravidian languages, referred to Proto-Dravidian as a reconstructed, imagined linguistic system. Tamil shares more features with this proto-language, yes, but that doesn't make it the mother of the others. These are sister languages. Both Kannada and Tamil have rich, fantastic traditions. Both have fanatics too. It's this complex mix of brilliance and spirit that is behind language chauvinism and protests (on both sides).' Yet, it is impossible to ignore Kamal Haasan the artiste, whose talent leapfrogged the North-South divide long before OTT came into play. A child star at age five, a dancer, director, screenwriter, producer, and an actor with, for one, more than 50 broken bones from stunts, he is known to live and breathe cinema. Haasan's colleagues such as Khushbu, another actor-turned-politician, calls him an 'encyclopaedia of cinema', one who spotted value in television at a time when the big stars scorned it, and one who deployed prosthetics to artistic heights. When he ran into problems with his 2013 film Vishwaroopam, whose ambitious plot included America's war on terror post-9/11, he followed up with an equally controversial sequel, whose spy story had a plot link to World War II. Both films turned out to be commercial successes. In 2022, Haasan's Vikram became one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of all time, in the process rescuing him reportedly from a financial crisis. At 70, an age at which few can boast of headlining a film even while making a political debut, Haasan perhaps believes he owes little to anybody. Even if it's an apology.
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Kamal Haasan moves Karnataka HC over 'Thug Life' release amid language row
Actor Kamal Haasan approached the Karnataka High Court on Monday, requesting directions to facilitate the smooth release and screening of his upcoming film Thug Life in the state, news agency PTI reported. The veteran actor's move comes in the wake of protests sparked by his recent remarks about the origins of the Kannada language. Haasan faced criticism in Karnataka after claiming that Kannada language originated from Tamil. During his address at the audio launch of Thug Life, Haasan began with 'Uyire Urave Tamizhe' — a phrase meaning 'my life and my family is Tamil language'. Addressing Kannada actor Shivarajkumar at the event, Haasan said, 'This is my family in that place. That's why he has come here. That's why I began my speech saying life, relationship and Tamil. Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil, so you too are included (part of it).' Amid calls to halt the film's release in Karnataka, which is set to release on June 5, Haasan has sought legal intervention to avert any attempts to disrupt its screening. In his petition, filed through the CEO of Raaj Kamal Films International, Haasan has requested the court to direct the Karnataka government, police, and film trade bodies not to obstruct the release. The plea also asks the Director General of Police and the City Police Commissioner to ensure adequate security for the screening. KFCC bans release after ultimatum The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), responding to pro-Kannada groups' demands, announced a ban on Thug Life in Karnataka. The decision came after Kamal Haasan was given a 24-hour ultimatum to issue a public apology, which expired on May 30. Kamal Haasan has refused to issue a public apology, stating that he would only do so if he believed he was at fault. 'I've been threatened before. If I'm wrong, I'll apologise. If I'm not, I won't. This is my lifestyle, please don't tamper with it,' he said. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mani Ratnam, the movie marks his second collaboration with Kamal Haasan and stars Trisha Krishnan and Silambarasan TR, with music composed by AR Rahman.
News18
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
‘Why Make It A Big Issue': Actor Shivrajkumar Breaks Silence On Kannada Row, Defends Kamal Haasan
Last Updated: Kamal Haasan stoked controversy with his "Kannada was born from Tamil" remark, drawing criticism from politicians. Kannada actor Shivrajkumar has now come out in his defence. Amid a row over Kamal Haasan's 'Kannada was born from Tamil" remark, Shivrajkumar – who was the chief guest at the event where the statement was made – has broken his silence on the controversy but shied away from criticising the actor. While Haasan's remarks were slammed by politicians and several online users alike, Shivrajkumar too came under fire for his silence on the controversy until yesterday. The Kannada actor defended Haasan, stating that he is his favorite and that his father shared a 'special relationship" with the Tamil actor. During an event of his upcoming film Thug Life in Chennai, Haasan had opened his speech with 'Uyire Urave Tamizhe (My life, and my family, is in Tamil language). Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil, so you too are included." Shivrajkumar came out in the fellow actor's defence and said that Haasan has 'love for Kannada". 'I really like Kamal Haasan, he is my favorite. My father and Kamal Haasan had a special relationship, and because of that, I'm not just a fan—I admire him deeply. I consider Kamal Haasan an inspiration. We just went to his program and came back, that's all. Even Kamal Haasan has a love for Kannada. When he came to Bengaluru, he could have been asked then. Why make it a big issue now?" he said. 'Just saying 'Kannada Kannada' with words isn't enough. I fight for Kannada. I'm ready to die for Kannada. If you say Kannada, then don't just support star actors — new talents also need to be encouraged. Kamal Haasan will come to know all this, and he himself will correct it," Shivrajkumar added. Shivrajkumar is the son of late Kannada actor Dr Rajkumar, who is regarded as a legendary figure in Kannada cinema. On July 30, 2000, Dr Rajkumar was kidnapped from his farmhouse in Gajanur, Tamil Nadu, close to the Karnataka border. The forest bandit Veerappan and his gang took him along with three others—his son-in-law, SA Govindaraj, a relative named Nagesh, and assistant film director Nagappa. The kidnapping caused a big uproar among the public and created tension between the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. As the controversy blew up, Haasan refused to apologise and said that he only stated 'what historians have said." 'I only repeated what historians have said. I haven't provided any false information. There's nothing I said that warrants an apology. In love, the concept of apology doesn't arise," he said. First Published:
Hans India
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Kannada was born out of Tamil: Kamal Haasan's comment sparks huge political outrage
Chennai/Bengaluru: Actor Kamal Haasan has sparked a storm just weeks ahead of his film Thug Life's release, claiming that "Kannada was born out of Tamil" — a remark that has triggered outrage across Karnataka. These comments by Kamal Haasan were made during the launch of his latest film at an event in Chennai. According to reports, the speech made by the actor began with "Uyire Urave Tamizhe", meaning "my life and my family" in Tamil. He then shifted to Shivarajkumar, a Kannada actor present at the event. Haasan said, "This is my family. That's why he (Shivarajkumar) has come here. That's why I began my speech saying life, relationship and Tamil. Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil, so you too are included," said Haasan on the Kanada origin. These comments triggered backlash in Karnataka, with the state BJP chief Vijayendra Yediyurappa calling it as 'uncultured' behaviour and accused him of "disrespecting' and 'hurting the self-respect of 6.5 crore Kannadigas' in his effort to 'glorify his own mother tongue.' The BJP chief also demanded an 'unconditional apology' to Kannadigas. In a post on X, he said that artists should respect every language. 'It is the height of arrogance that actor @ikamalhaasan, who has acted in many Indian languages, including Kannada, has insulted Kannada,' he said further. The BJP chief also accused Haasan of insulting Hinduism and hurting religious sentiments for the past few years. Yediyurappa stated that while Kannadigas are not language haters they will never sacrifice self-respect when it comes to their land, language, people, ideas, water. Meanwhile, the president of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Praveen Shetty, said they could not confront the actor as he left the venue. Giving Haasan a warning, it said: 'Today, we are giving a strong warning to him. You want to do business in Karnataka and show your movies, stop insulting Kannada and Kannadigas.' Earlier while on promotion in Tamil at the event, the actor emphasised that everyone should learn to speak their neighbouring state's language first and Hindi later.
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Business Standard
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Kamal Haasan faces flak for 'Kannada was born from Tamil' comment
Tamil megastar Kamal Haasan has sparked a fresh controversy just weeks before the release of his film Thug Life, claiming that Kannada 'was born out of Tamil' during an event in Chennai. The remark drew sharp criticism from Karnataka's BJP leaders and pro-Kannada groups, who have threatened to boycott the film. Speaking at the audio launch of the Mani Ratnam-directed movie, Haasan opened with the phrase 'Uyire Urave Tamizhe' — meaning 'my life and my family is Tamil language". Addressing Kannada actor Shivarajkumar, who was present at the event, he said, 'This is my family in that place. That's why he has come here. That's why I began my speech saying life, relationship and Tamil. Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil, so you too are included (part of it).' Protests and political backlash Activists tore down Thug Life posters in Bengaluru and threatened further action if Haasan continued with such statements. Shetty also claimed that Haasan avoided a planned protest where activists intended to throw black ink at him during a promotional event in Bengaluru. BJP joins the criticism BJP Karnataka state president BY Vijayendra Yediyurappa criticised Haasan on social media, calling his remarks 'uncultured behaviour' and 'the height of arrogance". 'It is the height of arrogance that an actor @ikamalhaasan, who has acted in many Indian languages including Kannada, has insulted Kannada by including actor Shivarajkumar in the glorification of his Tamil language,' Yediyurappa said in a post on X. ಮಾತೃಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರೀತಿಸಬೇಕು, ಆದರೆ ಅದರ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ದುರಭಿಮಾನ ಮೆರೆಯುವುದು ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ ಹೀನ ನಡವಳಿಕೆಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ಕಲಾವಿದರಿಗೆ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನೂ ಗೌರವಿಸುವ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ ಇರಬೇಕು. ಕನ್ನಡವೂ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಅನೇಕ ಭಾರತೀಯ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಟಿಸಿರುವ ನಟ @ikamalhaasan ತಮ್ಮ ತಮಿಳು ಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನು ವೈಭವಿಕರಿಸುವ ಮತ್ತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಟ… — Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) May 27, 2025 He highlighted Kannada's rich heritage, dating back over 2,500 years, and accused Haasan of displaying an 'ungrateful personality' for insulting the language despite having acted in Kannada films. Yediyurappa also said Haasan had previously 'insulted Hinduism and hurt religious sentiments". Boycott threats loom over 'Thug Life' Haasan's remarks have intensified calls for a boycott of Thug Life in Karnataka unless he issues a clarification or apology. The film is scheduled to release on June 5 and marks Haasan's second collaboration with Mani Ratnam after their iconic 1987 film Nayakan.
