'Kamal Haasan respects Kannada deeply': Shivrajkumar’s first reaction on controversy
The actor said Kamal loves the Kannada language, he has even acted in Kannada films, and that whenever he goes to Bengaluru, he speaks highly about Kannada
Shivrajkumar has finally broken his silence on Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan’s controversial remarks about the Kannada language. He emphasised that love for Kannada shouldn’t emerge only when someone makes a statement - it should be a constant presence.
Recently, a pre-release event for Kamal Haasan’s film Thug Life was held in Chennai, where Shivrajkumar participated as the chief guest.
Also Read: Apologise or face ban: Karnataka govt tells Kamal Haasan
During his speech, Kamal Haasan said, “Kannada was born from Tamil…” - a statement that sparked a major controversy. While many discussed and debated the remark, Shivrajkumar had remained silent until now.
Speaking at an event on Wednesday night (May 28), he finally shared his views.
‘I’m his fan’
Shivrajkumar said, “Kamal Haasan has great respect for Kannada. He loves the Kannada language. He has even acted in Kannada films. Whenever he comes to Bengaluru, he speaks highly about Kannada. I grew up watching him. I’m his fan. Some may wonder why I am a fan when my father (Dr Rajkumar) was around. My father is family, his position is different. But Kamal Haasan holds a different place in my heart. He has inspired me a lot. He is my favourite actor. I am confident he understands all this and will respond accordingly if he feels the need to.”
Also Read: Kannada remark was ‘out of love’; not qualified to speak on language: Kamal Haasan
Shivrajkumar further stressed, “Love for Kannada should not only arise when someone makes a remark. It should be constant. I attended his event as a guest, and he welcomed me with respect. I don’t know what happened after that. When I returned here, it had become a big issue. He later came to Bengaluru and spoke to everyone. He could have been asked about it here, but I don’t know why he wasn’t. Love for Kannada should always be in the heart. We must fight for Kannada, even die for Kannada. It’s not just about talking or posing for headlines - that’s not a big deal.”
‘Support fresh talent’
He urged people to reflect on their own contributions to Kannada, saying, “Think about whether what we’re doing is right. Ask yourself what you are doing for Kannada. It’s not enough to just support star films. We must encourage newcomers too, but no one talks about that. If we don’t support fresh talent, how will Kannada grow? That’s our responsibility. Please don’t misinterpret this. Touch your heart and think - are we doing the right thing? You’ll find the answer.”
Also Read: ‘Kannada born out of Tamil’: Kamal Haasan sparks row with remark; 'apologise', says BJP
Only repeated what historians have said: Kamal
Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan has made it clear that he will not apologise.
Speaking on the matter, he stated, “I only repeated what historians have said. I haven’t provided any false information. There’s nothing I said that warrants an apology. In love, the concept of apology doesn’t arise.”
(This article first appeared in The Federal Karnataka)