BENGALURU: The fire ignited by Kamal Haasan’s recent comments on the Kannada language shows no signs of dying down. What began as a linguistic remark has snowballed into a full-blown cultural standoff, with political leaders, pro-Kannada activists and film associations across Karnataka demanding an unambiguous apology from the veteran actor.
Despite the growing outrage, Kamal Haasan has attempted to extinguish the flames with a two-page open letter addressed to KFCC President Narasimhulu.
In the letter, Haasan expressed regret over the misunderstanding, clarifying that his statements were “taken out of context” and never intended to “diminish Kannada in any way”. His intent, he wrote, was simply to highlight the unity of Indian languages and cultures, and not to create division.
“My bond with Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam — and all languages of this land — is abiding and heartfelt,” Haasan wrote, adding that he stands for the equal dignity of all Indian languages and firmly opposes any linguistic dominance.
“Such imbalance undermines the linguistic fabric of the Union of India,” he noted.
In a closing sentiment that echoed his cinematic legacy, Haasan wrote, “I speak the language of cinema, which knows only love and bonding... This love and bond — the same values my seniors instilled in me — is what I wished to share. It was out of this respect that Shivarajkumar graciously attended the audio launch, and I deeply regret the embarrassment he faced due to this controversy. Still, I am confident that our mutual respect will only grow stronger.”