Karnataka minister Shivaraj Tangadagi.
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Bengaluru: Minister for Kannada and Culture Shivaraj Tangadagi has asked the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) to immediately ban thespian Kamal Haasan’s films in the state if he does not apologise for his remarks about the Kannada language.
During the audio launch of his upcoming film Thug of Life, the 70-year-old actor suggested that Kannada was born out of Tamil.
Pro-Kannada activists slammed the actor and called for a boycott of his films. Haasan, however, refused to apologise, saying what he had said was “out of love” and that “love will never apologise”. In a letter addressed to the KFCC president, Tangadagi said Haasan’s “insulting” remarks had “pained all Kannadigas, including me,” and “hurt” their sentiments.
He said it was unbecoming of an actor of Kamal’s stature to make such remarks, especially given that he had acted in several Kannada films. “When it comes to Kannada land, water and language, we cannot tolerate such statements, no matter who makes them. Kamal Haasan must apologise,” he stated.
If he fails to do so, his films must be banned forthwith in Karnataka, he added.