A plea submitted by Kamal Haasan‘s production company, Raaj Kamal Films International, was being heard by the Karnataka High Court’s lone bench. In the plea, police protection was requested for the Karnataka premiere of the movie “Thug Life,” which is set to open in theatres on June 5.
On Tuesday, the court recommended that Kamal Haasan issue an apology if his recent comments regarding the Kannada language’s roots, delivered during the audio premiere of his next movie, had offended Karnataka residents. Kannada activists and Shivraj Thangadagi, the state’s Minister for Kannada & Culture, have criticised his remarks and called for a public apology.
Court’s Advice: A Simple Apology Could Defuse Tensions
The petitioner’s senior lawyer, Dyan Chinnappa, was questioned by the bench on Kamal Haasan’s comments and whether he intended to issue an apology. The court emphasised that persons cannot defend hurting public opinion, particularly when it comes to extremely delicate subjects that are near and dear to people’s hearts, like language, land, and water.
As noted by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, language is an issue of identity because India’s states were established along linguistic lines. Why wouldn’t Kamal Haasan just say, “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings?” he said. “Seeking protection from the court without acknowledging the root cause is not the right approach when there is unrest or resentment among the people,” he continued.

A Historical Parallel and Court’s Concern
Justice Nagaprasanna remembered that the last Governor-General of India, C. Rajagopalachari, had suggested that Kannada originated from Tamil in 1950. After being questioned by Kannada author Hampanna, Rajagopalachari issued a public apol
Why won’t you just say sorry, especially when you want your film to be released smoothly in Karnataka?” the judge said, criticising Kamal Haasan’s position. Why would you want to show the film here if you don’t care about the opinions of the audience?
“Freedom of speech does not extend to hurting people’s emotions, especially the general public,” the judge continued. We only ask that you acknowledge us. Someone made a mistake; now take the proper action.
Defense: Statement Taken Out of Context
The attorney for Kamal Haasan contended that his comments were misconstrued and that there was no malicious intent. It wasn’t a Kannada and Tamil language seminar. The quote was not accurate. “Calming the situation is our goal,” the attorney stated.
“You’ve created a situation that’s led to discontent and unrest,” the judge retorted. Shouldn’t you accept responsibility if you knew this may occur? You are also a citizen of the nation.
“Language is important,” he added. It is among the most cultural and emotional components of identity. You need to support your claim that one language evolved from another with linguistic or historical knowledge. Are you a linguist or a historian?
Legal Stand and Risk of Losses
In its writ petition, the production company contended that the statements were misconstrued and selectively used, notwithstanding their intended expression of cultural togetherness. It also sparked worries that the local police might not be able to keep the workers and audience safe when the movie came out.
They claimed that any restriction would infringe upon their fundamental freedom to conduct business under Article 19 of the Constitution, as the picture had obtained the appropriate certification from the CBFC. They cautioned that such a prohibition might result in irreversible harm and losses up to crores of rupees.
The court was asked in the petition to:
Avoid taking any action that would prevent the movie from being released.
Give the police instructions to ensure that theatres, the production crew, and spectators are all adequately protected.
Stop the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) from issuing any directives that could block the film’s release.
Protests and Political Reactions
Pro-Kannada groups held demonstrations across cities like Bengaluru, Belagavi, Hubballi, and Mysuru, demanding an apology.Later, in Chennai, Kamal Haasan explained that his comments were motivated by his passion for languages and that he had learnt about language history from academics. He declared, “I never meant any harm.”
In a letter dated May 29, Minister Thangadagi requested that the KFCC prohibit all Kamal Haasan films in Karnataka unless he apologised. “The people of Karnataka will not accept disrespect for their land, water, or language, regardless of how well-known he is,” he declared.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah emphasized that Kannada boasts a rich and well-documented history, adding with a touch of sarcasm, “Poor Kamal Haasan — he just seems unaware of that.”