'Will apologise only if I am wrong': Kamal Haasan defends remarks on Kannada language amid 'thug life' boycott calls

NEW DELHI: Facing growing backlash and a boycott call over his controversial remark about the Kannada language , MNM president and actor Kamal Haasan on Friday said he would apologise only if proven wrong and dismissed threats from pro-Kannada groups. “I've been threatened earlier too, and if I am wrong, I would apologise, if I'm not, I won't,” Haasan said, responding to demands for a public apology.

The controversy erupted after Haasan reportedly said during a promotional event in Chennai that “Kannada is born out of Tamil.” The remark triggered widespread outrage in Karnataka, with political leaders, language activists and film bodies condemning the statement as disrespectful to Kannada's heritage.

#WATCH | Chennai: "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… pic.twitter.com/ZtNMhPYETq

— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2025

“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,” Haasan said, addressing the media.

In response to the uproar, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce ( KFCC ) has announced a ban on the release of Haasan's upcoming film Thug Life in the state. Sa Ra Govindu, a representative of KFCC, said, “Definitely, there is no 'Sorry' term being specified anywhere by Kamal Haasan. We will surely not release the film. We (KFCC) will stand with Rakshina Vedike and other Kannada organisations.”

The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), which has been at the forefront of the protest, had earlier issued a warning to Haasan. “You want to do business in Karnataka and show your movies, stop insulting Kannada and Kannadigas,” KRV president Praveen Shetty said, adding that the group had planned to confront Haasan before he left the event venue.

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah also weighed in, saying, “Kannada has a long-standing history. Poor Kamal Haasan, he is unaware of it.” Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra called the remark “an insult to Kannada” and demanded an unconditional apology from the actor.

Amid the backlash, Haasan attempted to clarify his stance. “I think what I said was said out of love and with a lot of historians who taught me language, history and that I didn’t mean anything,” he stated. Urging politicians to stay away from linguistic debates, he added, “Politicians are not qualified to talk about language... that includes me.”

Haasan further cited linguistic perspectives, saying, “If you look at it from the northern point of view, what they say is right. If you look from Kanyakumari, then what I say is right. There's a third angle to it also... The scholars and language experts will say they both are right.”

Protests were also reported in Karnataka’s Belagavi city where demonstrators gathered near a cinema hall demanding an apology. Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad criticised Haasan’s statement, calling it “unfortunate” and unnecessary during a time when national unity is needed.

Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Kamal Haasan, Trisha Krishnan, and Silambarasan TR, is now caught in the middle of a cultural and political storm, with its release in Karnataka under threat until the actor issues a formal apology.