A collage of Seeman and Kamal Haasan.
Credit: Instagram/@seeman4tn_official & Instagram/@ikamalhaasan
Since yesterday, Kamal Haasan is buzzing across all social platform for his claim that Kannada language was born out of Tamil. Said during the audio launch of his upcoming movie Thug Life, his statement has sparked a massive row in Karnataka with many big wigs condemning his claim.
While Kamal Haasan faces heat for his remarks and boycott shadow looms over his upcoming movie Thug Life, he has found a support in actor and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) leader Seeman. Seeman has come forward in defense of Kamal and has lent his support to him in the ongoing language controversy.
Addressing this controversy, Seeman said, “They may not realize the truth, these people are not aware of their ethnic history. There is no point in discussing this issue. Just as our big brother (Kamal Haasan) said, around the 1800s year ago, people started mixing Tamil and Sanskrit, and that's how the Kannada language came into existence. Subsequently, Telugu, Malayalam, and Tulu came into existence.”
He further said, “What Kamal Haasan stated is not just true, it is the truth about the truth — entirely correct in every sense. The southern languages are offshoots of Tamil, and anyone familiar with historical facts won’t debate. Scholars in Karnataka — including linguists, archaeologists and historians — will acknowledge the truth in Kamal Haasan's claim and will not oppose. Speaking without understanding the facts serves no purpose.”
Kamal Haasan’s comments have sparked massive outrage among several pro-Kannada outfits in Karnataka. These groups staged protests against Kamal Haasan in various parts of the state and claimed that Kannada has a history spanning thousands of years. As a demonstration of their anger, they even burnt Kamal Hassan's posters at Belagavi and few other places, and raised slogans against him.
Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Tuesday had accused Kamal Haasan of "disrespecting" Kannada in his effort to glorify his own mother tongue. He also demanded that the actor issue an “unconditional apology to Kannadigas immediately”.
However, Kamal Haasan and makers of Thug Life continue to remain silent and has don’t reacted to the news. Directed by Mani Ratnam, Thug Life stars Kamal Haasan and STR in key roles and is all set for a worldwide theatrical release on June 5, 2025.