Karnataka High Court Warns Kamal Hasan Over Language Remarks

Kamal Hasan, a popular actor turned politician, faces a legal challenge after being accused of insulting the Kannada language, its literature, land and cultural identity. The complaint, first logged at Kankapura Town Court, was shifted to the 42nd Representative Court in Bangalore, a specialized forum for cases involving members of the legislature.

The spark for the dispute was a comment made in May 2025 at a film promotion in Chennai, where Hasan suggested that Kannada had its roots in Tamil. The claim set off a wave of protests across Karnataka, with activists demanding an unconditional apology and urging theater owners to boycott his movies.

Hasan declined to apologise, citing that his statement was based on the opinions of certain historians and made in goodwill. He later emphasized that political leaders should not debate linguistic origins, leaving such matters to qualified linguists.

The Karnataka chief minister and other senior politicians condemned the remarks. The Karnataka High Court also expressed anger, noting that a single apology could have resolved the issue. The bench asked Hasan whether he considered himself a historian or a linguist, reminding public personalities that they cannot disregard community sentiments.