Kamal Haasan Responds to Kannada-Tamil Controversy with Historical Insights

In response to the controversy surrounding his statement that Kannada originated from Tamil, actor Kamal Haasan asserted that he will not apologize for expressing his views with affection. Speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Haasan emphasized that his comments were made with love and that many historians have educated him on the history of languages. He clarified that he had no ill intentions. Furthermore, he pointed out that political figures often lack the expertise to comment on such matters. As the president of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), Haasan highlighted examples from the political history of Tamil Nadu, illustrating that the state has long embraced diverse leadership.

Haasan shed light on the inclusivity of Tamil Nadu's political heritage, noting that the state has had Chief Ministers from various backgrounds, including Menons, Reddys, Tamils, and Kannada Iyengars. He urged politicians to exercise restraint when discussing the origins of languages, suggesting that such discussions should be left to regional experts. He stated that politicians are not qualified to speak on this topic, including himself, and called for these profound discussions to be entrusted to historians, archaeologists, and language specialists.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticized Kamal Haasan on Wednesday regarding his claim that Kannada was born from Tamil, stating that the actor lacks knowledge of the language's extensive history. According to reports, Siddaramaiah remarked that Kannada has a very ancient history and expressed concern that Haasan is unaware of it. The controversy erupted after Haasan made this assertion during the audio launch of his upcoming film 'Thug Life' in Chennai.