Kamal Haasan Gagged by Court Order After Kannada Language Controversy

Kamal Haasan is facing legal repercussions following controversial remarks he made about the Kannada language during a promotional event for his film Thug Life last month. The comments sparked outrage, leading to calls for a ban on the film in Bengaluru.

Even after a month, the controversy continues to simmer. A civil court in Bengaluru has issued an ex parte interim injunction, effectively preventing the veteran actor from making any further statements that could be construed as disparaging towards the Kannada language or its culture.

The order, issued on Friday (July 4), comes in response to a civil suit filed by Mahesh Joshi, President of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP). PTI reports that the petition sought legal measures to restrain Kamal Haasan from making "defamatory remarks" concerning the language and its cultural heritage.

The court's directive prohibits Kamal Haasan from “posting, making, writing, or publishing any statement or remarks claiming linguistic superiority over the Kannada language or making any statements against the Kannada language, literature, land, and culture.”

The actor has also been summoned to appear in person for a hearing scheduled for August 30.

The controversy stems from comments Kamal Haasan made during a Thug Life promotional event in Bengaluru in May. He stated, “Kannada was born out of Tamil,” a statement that was met with resistance from Kannada activists and cultural organizations. The situation escalated when Haasan declined to retract his statement or issue an apology. Consequently, Thug Life did not see a release in Karnataka, despite efforts by the production house and Kamal Haasan to appeal to the High Court.

About Thug Life

Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, features a cast including Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, and Aishwarya Lekshmi. The film has unfortunately underperformed at the box office.