I will apologize only if I am wrong: Kamal Haasan on Kannada language controversy

Actor Kamal Haasan’s recent comments stating that the Kannada language originated from Tamil sparked controversy. Many have demanded a public apology from him for his remarks on the Kannada language. Responding to the issue, Kamal Haasan refused to apologize, saying, “I will apologize only if I’ve done something wrong. Otherwise, I won’t. That’s my style.” He added that India is a democratic country and he believes in law and justice.

Kamal Haasan made these comments during the pre-release event of his upcoming film "Thug Life" held in Chennai on Tuesday. While addressing the gathering, he said, “Kannada originated from Tamil.” Kannada superstar Shivrajkumar also attended the same event. Kamal started his speech with an emotional note saying, “Uyire, Urave Tamile” (My life, my bond is Tamil) and then spoke directly to Shivrajkumar.

Kamal further stated, “Though Shivrajkumar lives in another state, he is like a family member to me. That’s why he is here today. At the beginning of my speech, I mentioned my life and family is Tamil language. Your language (Kannada) was born from Tamil — in that way, you are a part of us,” he said. His remarks triggered backlash from Kannada organizations. In Bengaluru, protestors tore down "Thug Life" movie banners. They questioned, “You want to do business in Karnataka, but insult the Kannada language?”