Bengaluru: Amid the growing controversy over his ‘Kannada was born out of Tamil’ remark, actor Kamal Haasan Tuesday told the Karnataka High Court he will not release his upcoming film Thug Life in the state, but refused to apologise for his statement that has drawn widespread criticism.
Haasan (70) made the statement at the audio launch event for the movie 24 May, and later stood by it, even though he admitted he is not an authority on the subject.
Several pro-Kannada organisations threatened not to allow the release of his film Thug Life and warned its screening in the state will be disrupted if the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce went against them and allowed the release.
The film is scheduled for worldwide release 5 June.
Haasan’s production house Raaj Kamal Films International moved the Karnataka High Court Monday, seeking protection from any individual, group, or authority—including the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce—from obstructing the screening of the film in the state.
Hearing the petition Tuesday, Justice M. Nagaprasanna said Haasan or any other citizen has no right to hurt the sentiments of the masses. Justice Nagaprasanna said that ‘Nela, Jala, Bashe’ (land, water and language) are very emotional issues and that Haasan has undermined Kannada with his statements.
“If a public figure of this kind in a public forum makes a statement that this language is born of this language.. No language can be born of another language…it’s a different thing. But if he has made that statement, where is the material? And what has happened because of that (statement)…unrest, disharmony? And what did the people of Karnataka ask, apologise?” Justice Nagaprassanna said.
The Haasan’s production house also sought police protection for the film’s cast, crew, theatre owners, and audiences, citing potential threats of disruption, according to a PTI report. Haasan’s film production house has sought to make the Karnataka government, the state police, the Bengaluru police commissioner, the Central Board of Film Certification and the state film chamber as respondents.
The judge asked why the actor could not redeem the situation with a simple apology.
Senior counsel Dhyan Chinnappa, who represented the production house, said the actor did not make the statement at a Tamil-Kannada seminar but has the right to freedom of expression.
Justice Nagaprasanna observed, “Freedom of expression cannot be stretched to the extent of hurting someone’s sentiments, of a mass (population) in particular.”
He added that Haasan himself was the producer and has now approached the court for protection after a statement made by him created the circumstance.
“You are here for commercial interest saying that your movie should run smoothly and the police force of the state of Karnataka should protect your movie to be run smoothly for a situation created by you,” the judge said, adding that one apology would have solved everything.
The court also said there were cases being filed over comments made by ordinary people on social media as well. “Ordinary people now tweeting or doing anything on social media is also considered a mistake and crimes are registered left, right, centre. Now, in a public forum a public figure like this speaks,” he said.
The judge even invoked the 1950 incident when first Bharat Ratna awardees C. Rajagopalachari issued a public apology after stating that Kannada had evolved from Tamil.
Justice Nagaprasanna said Rajagopalachari issued the apology after several Kannada writers wrote to him.
C. Rajagopalachari apologised “but 75 years later, this person (Haasan) won’t”, said the judge.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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