'Let's Not Escalate': Karnataka Deputy CM Calls Kamal Haasan's Remark A 'Small Issue'

Last Updated:June 03, 2025, 14:09 IST

The Deputy CM had made similar appeals on Monday, urging people to be patient and avoid fanning tensions

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. (PTI file photo)

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday asked pro-Kannada groups “not to escalate" the controversy over actor Kamal Haasan’s remark suggesting that Kannada originated from Tamil, calling it a “small issue."

Speaking to the media, Shivakumar said, “If Kamal Haasan has made a mistake, then he will apologise. The court will take the necessary action."

The Deputy CM had made similar appeals on Monday, urging people to be patient and avoid fanning tensions. He stressed the close ties between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, saying, “I don’t know the issue so let me go to my records and then I will speak. I don’t want to make this a political issue. We all are neighbours, We all have to work together, live together. Our water goes to Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu people come here. We are not enemies. We all are friends."

“I would like to ask everyone to remain calm and patient," Shivakumar added while reminding the public that nothing is permanent in life.

Earlier in the day, the Karnataka High Court criticised Haasan over his remark, with Justice M Nagaprasanna stating that it had hurt the sentiments of Kannadigas. The judge questioned Haasan’s refusal to apologise, remarking, “Are you a historian or a linguist to make such a statement? No language is born out of another. A single apology could have resolved the situation."

The court stressed that “language is an emotional and cultural identity of a people" and warned against making statements that could damage the pride of a linguistic community.

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) had announced that Haasan’s film ‘Thug Life’, set to release on June 5, would not be allowed to screen in the state unless he publicly apologised. The chamber, which represents producers, distributors and exhibitors, took strong objection to Haasan’s comments made during a promotional event in Chennai.

(With inputs from agencies)

Karnataka, India, India

News politics 'Let's Not Escalate': Karnataka Deputy CM Calls Kamal Haasan's Remark A 'Small Issue'