Latest news with #anti-Kannada
India Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
South Indian Artistes Association backs Kamal Haasan amid Kannada language row
The South Indian Artistes Association (SIAA) has issued a strong statement in support of veteran actor Kamal Haasan, urging the Karnataka government, the people of Karnataka, and the Kannada film industry to understand the true intent behind his recent remarks, which have sparked its statement, the SIAA warned that the current backlash against Kamal Haasan could set a 'dark precedent' in the world of cinema and public discourse. The association emphasised that misrepresenting a renowned and respected figure like Kamal Haasan—who has consistently promoted unity across regional and linguistic lines—amounts to a grave letter highlighted Kamal Haasan's longstanding friendship with legendary Kannada actor Dr Rajkumar and playwright and actor Girish Karnad, as well as his deep appreciation for literature and cultural expression across all languages. It also recalled Kamal's unwavering support during a critical moment in Karnataka's history.'When the legendary Dr Rajkumar was abducted, Kamal Haasan was among the first voices to speak out and call for his release,' the statement read. 'He has always considered Dr Rajkumar as a brother and holds Dr Shivarajkumar in the regard of a son.'Here's the statement issued by SIAA: The association strongly condemned the portrayal of Kamal Haasan as being anti-Kannada, calling such slander 'entirely unacceptable.' It added that no individual with 'awareness and rationality' could justify such a campaign against an artist of his Haasan is a legendary artist who has transcended the barriers of caste, religion, race, and language to dedicate his life to the service of art. To question his integrity is to insult decades of cultural unity and artistic excellence,' the letter statement has drawn support from many across the southern film industries, as calls for mature and respectful dialogue continue to grow in the wake of the has refused to apologise. Speaking to the media in Chennai on Friday, he said, "It is a democracy. I believe in the law and justice. My love for Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala is true. Nobody will suspect it except for those who have an agenda. I've been threatened earlier too, and if I am wrong, I would apologise, if I'm not, I won't."Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan's upcoming film, 'Thug Life', has been banned by the Karnataka Film In You May Also Like IN THIS STORY#Kamal Haasan
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
North vs South: Tamannaah Bhatia's appointment as brand ambassador of Mysore Sandal Soap faces flak; 'no Kannada actor?'
The Karnataka government has recently appointed Bollywood actor Tamannaah Bhatia as the new brand ambassador of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), the company behind the iconic Mysore Sandal Soap. The announcement, made official on May 22 has quickly ignited controversy, with critics questioning the choice of a non-Kannada-speaking actor to represent one of Karnataka's most treasured heritage brands. According to the state government's official order, Tamannaah Bhatia will hold the ambassador role for two years and two days, for which she will be paid ₹6.2 crore. While the move is aimed at revitalising the brand's image and expanding its market reach, it has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters. According to the Hindu, Members of the Yuva Karnataka Vedike staged a protest outside KSDL's Yeshwantpur factory in Bengaluru on May 23. The group condemned the appointment, calling it an 'anti-Kannada' decision by the government. Protesters questioned the rationale behind selecting Tamannaah, a multi-lingual actress, and allocating a hefty amount of crores for her endorsement. They argued that Mysore Sandal Soap had already generated profits exceeding ₹400 crore without relying on celebrity endorsements. The protesters demanded that the government cancel the deal, emphasising the brand's deep-rooted legacy in Karnataka's culture and identity. Additionally, the decision has also sparked sharp criticism from the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), which slammed the appointment as 'irrational, irrelevant, unethical, and irresponsible.' The Vedike said in a statement, 'There are many talented and popular Kannada actresses who could have done justice to the role while also connecting emotionally with the people of Karnataka. Instead, the government has chosen a Bollywood face, sending out a wrong message and appearing to endorse Hindi cultural dominance over Karnataka's local ethos.' The public sentiment on social media mirrored this discontent. One user commented on X, 'This soap has a legacy and decades of loyal customers. I don't understand what Tamanna brings to the table or how much she'll actually improve the business — she's not a household name across Karnataka forget India.' Another asked, 'Mysuru sandal soap is pride of Karnataka. Doesn't the Kannada industry have good actresses?' Yet another remarked, 'Nandhini milk sells outside #Karnataka without a popular face.. We don't need celebrities to sell our 100-year-old legacy authentic #MysoreSandalSoap.' In response to the backlash, Minister for Commerce & Industries M.B. Patil addressed the concerns raised by activists and netizens. While reiterating his deepest respect and regard for the Kannada language, identity and film industry, the minister emphasised that business competitiveness was a key factor behind the appointment. Describing the move as thoughtful and research-backed, Mr. Patil explained that the brand is implementing a multi-pronged strategy to achieve an ambitious turnover target of ₹5,000 crore by 2028. In a post on X, the minister wrote: 'We believe that what you sow is what you reap. That's why we are sowing excellence — in products, people, processes, and partnerships... The appointment of #TamannaahBhatia as brand ambassador is a well-researched move — given her pan-India appeal, strong digital presence, and resonance with youth.' He further elaborated that the selection of a brand ambassador considers several factors, including availability (especially if an actor has a non-compete agreement), social media reach, alignment with the brand and product, target audience, and overall marketing effectiveness. Patil hinted that Tamannaah's appointment is part of a broader strategy to aggressively expand Mysore Sandal Soap's market presence beyond Karnataka, signalling a comprehensive and strategic overhaul for the brand. It is noteworthy that Tamannaah has primarily built her career in South Indian cinema and is well-known across that region. She began her acting journey with the Hindi film Chand Sa Roshan Chehra (2005) before making her Telugu debut with Sree (2005) and Tamil debut with Kedi (2006). Over the years, she has delivered several notable performances in Telugu films and in Tamil cinema. Given her pan-India presence, what do you think about her appointment as the face of Mysore Sandal Soap?
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Tamannaah Bhatia as face of Mysore Sandal: Kannada activists stage protest
A day after Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Limited appointed actor Tammannah Bhatia as the brand ambassador of its products, the Karnataka government has come under criticism for picking a non-Kannada speaking actor for the position. Members of the Yuva Karnataka Vedike staged a protest at the KSDL's Yeshwantpur factory in Bengaluru on May 23, 2025, denouncing the government's 'anti-Kannada' decision. They questioned the need to select the multi-lingual actor offering her a deal worth crores of rupees, when the iconic Mysore Sandal brand had 'made a profit of ₹400 crore without any celebrity names attached to it so far.' Protestors demanded that the deal be cancelled. Ms. Tamannaah has been signed as the brand ambassador for a period of two years, for which she will be paid ₹6.2 crore. Minister responds Responding to objections raised by acitivists and netizens on social media, Minister for Commerce & Industries M.B. Patil, while expressing deepest respect and regard for the Kannada language, identity and film industry, told mediapersons that when it came to business, competitiveness was a critical factor. He described the appointment of the actor as a thoughtful and research-backed decision. The minister explained the brand's decision to use a multi-pronged strategy 'to achieve our ambitious ₹5,000 crore turnover target by 2028'. In a post on X, he wrote: 'We believe that what you sow is what you reap. That's why we are sowing excellence — in products, people, processes, and partnerships... The appointment of #TamannaahBhatia as brand ambassador is a well-researched move — given her pan-India appeal, strong digital presence, and resonance with youth.' The Minister also listed out the considerations that went into choosing a brand ambassador, including factors like availability for any given category (if they have a non-compete agreement), social media presence, coherence with the brand, product and target audience, and marketing fit and reach. Speaking of a comprehensive and strategic overhaul of the brand, Mr. Patil hinted that Ms. Tamannaah's appointment was part of the intent 'to also penetrate markets beyond Karnataka aggressively.' The actor is popular for her performances across all South Indian languge films as well as in the Hindi film industry. He added that the focus was to elevate Mysore Sandal brand from being the pride of Karnataka to becoming a true jewel of India. 'We are pushing for a long-term, sustainable transformation. Every piece of the puzzle — from production and marketing to talent and partnerships — is being aligned with a professional, world-class approach.'
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Bengaluru Police summon Sonu Nigam over alleged Kannada remarks
The Bengaluru District Police on Monday issued a notice to playback singer Sonu Nigam, asking him to appear before the investigation officer within a week. This comes after an FIR was filed against Nigam on May 3 at the Avalahalli Police Station in Bengaluru Rural District for allegedly making hurtful remarks about the Kannadiga community during a music event in Bengaluru. The remarks were reportedly made on stage and were captured in a video that has since gone viral. The complaint was lodged by Dharmaraj A, President of the Bengaluru City District Unit of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, a pro-Kannada group. The FIR includes charges under Sections 351(2), 352(1), and 353 of the Indian Penal Code. The complaint accuses Sonu Nigam of making "objectionable and emotionally provocative" statements that have hurt the sentiments of the Kannadiga community and incited hatred among various linguistic communities in Karnataka. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo Meanwhile, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike staged a protest against Nigam at Freedom Park in Bengaluru for his alleged anti-Kannada statement. Earlier this week, Nigam responded to the controversy, saying he had no intention to hurt anyone and was only performing. The singer took to social media to explain that a group of four to five individuals had caused disturbance during his event by shouting and threatening him to sing in Kannada. In a self-made video posted on his Instagram handle, Sonu Nigam said, "There were only 4-5 goons who were shouting. In fact, thousands of people were stopping them. I remember the girls were shouting at them, 'Don't disturb the scene.' And it was very important to remind them that no one asked for the language when the pants were taken off in the Pahalgam incident... Kannadigas are very nice people. Don't think there's any wave or movement; there are always a few bad people everywhere. I'm sure of it."
Hindustan Times
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru Police summons Sonu Nigam over alleged remarks against Kannadigas
The Bengaluru District Police on Monday issued a notice to playback singer Sonu Nigam, directing him to appear before the investigating officer within a week in connection with a case filed against him for allegedly making derogatory remarks about the Kannadiga community. The FIR was registered on May 3 at Avalahalli Police Station in Bengaluru Rural District, based on a complaint by Dharmaraj A, President of the Bengaluru City District Unit of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike—a pro-Kannada organisation. (Also Read: Sonu Nigam faces possible ban from Kannada film industry after row over his controversial remarks on language: Report) According to the complaint, Nigam made 'objectionable and emotionally provocative' remarks during a music event held in Bengaluru, news agency PTI reported. The comments, which were allegedly made on stage, were captured on video and have since gone viral. The complaint states that the singer's remarks hurt the sentiments of the Kannadiga community and incited disharmony among linguistic groups in the state. The FIR names sections 351(2), 352(1), and 353 of the Indian Penal Code. In response to the incident, members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike staged a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru, demanding action against Nigam for his purported anti-Kannada statements. Earlier this week, singer Sonu Nigam addressed the controversy surrounding his alleged remarks at a recent Bengaluru concert, clarifying that he had no intention of hurting anyone and was simply trying to perform. In a video statement shared on Instagram, Nigam said a small group of individuals had disrupted the event by shouting and threatening him to sing only in Kannada. He claimed the rest of the audience had opposed this behaviour. 'There were only four or five people creating a disturbance,' he said. 'Thousands of others, including some women in the crowd, were asking them not to spoil the event.' Referring to a previous incident in Pahalgam, Nigam added, 'No one asked which language was spoken when people were stripped of their dignity there.' He further said, 'Kannadigas are wonderful people. There is no larger movement here, everywhere, there are a few who behave badly. I truly believe that.' (With PTI inputs) (Also Read: Who offered ₹5 lakh to kill Suhas Shetty? Karnataka police reveal Mangaluru murder plot)
