Kamal Haasan says his statement on Kannada taken out of context

Chennai: As his magnum opus Thug Life faces a ban in Karnataka, film icon Kamal Haasan on Tuesday said his comments on Tamil and Kannada while talking about his association with thespian Dr Rajkumar’s family have been “misunderstood” and “taken out of context.”

Two days before his film releases worldwide, Kamal Haasan also asserted that his words were intended only to convey that “we are all one and from the same family and not to diminish Kannada any way.”

In his response to Narasimhalu, President, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, Kamal said he had always stood for the equal dignity of all Indian languages and remain opposed to the dominance of any one language over another as such imbalance undermines the linguistic fabric of the Union of India.

The legendary actor is under attack from various quarters in Karnataka for his comments Kannada was born out of Tamil during an event to promote his film in the presence of Kannada superstar Shiva Rajkumar. However, the actor found support from political leaders in Tamil Nadu who said Kamal Haasan merely stated facts and there was no confusion that Tamil was the mother of all Dravidian languages.

Though the actor said there was no dispute or debate on the rich legacy of Kannada language, he refused to apologise as demanded by Kannada outfits.

“It pains me that my statement at the Thug Life audio launch spoken out of gent affection for the legendary Dr. Rajkumar's family, especially Shiva Rajkumar been misunderstood and taken out of context. My words were intended only convey that we are all one and from the same family and not to diminish Kannada any way,” Kamal Haasan said.

Cinema must remain a bridge between people never a wall that divides them, Kamal said, adding that the above was the intent of his statement and

“I have never been nor would ever want to give any room for public unrest and animosity. I sincerely hope my words are received in the spirit they were intended, and that my enduring affection for Karnataka, its people, and their language is recognised in its true light. I earnestly believe that this misunderstanding is temporary and an opportunity to reiterate our mutual love and respect,” he added.

The actor said like Tamil, Kannada has a proud literary and cultural tradition that he had always admired and he had cherished the warmth and affection extended to me by the Kannada-speaking community. “I say this with a clear conscience conviction: my love for the language is genuine, and I have great respect for the that Kannadigas have for their mother tongue,” he added.

Kamal said his bond with Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and all languages of this land is abiding and heartfelt, and that he knows and speaks the language of Cinema.

“Cinema is a universal language that knows only love and bonding. My statement was also only to establish that bond and unity amongst all of us.

It is this love and bond that my seniors taught me which this love and bond that Shivanna attended the audio launch,” Kamal said.

He also regretted that Shivanna had to go through such embarrassment on account of his statement, but expressed the hope that their true love and respect for each other will always remain and get firmer now.