Kamal Haasan Gagged: Court Order Silences Actor on Kannada Language Debate After 'Defamatory Remarks' Controversy

Kamal Haasan is now legally barred from making potentially "defamatory remarks" against the Kannada language. A Bengaluru court has issued this verdict a month after the initial controversy erupted, stemming from comments he made during a promotional event for his film Thug Life. The film itself faced a ban in Bengaluru due to the backlash.

The controversy began when Kamal Haasan's statement about Kannada sparked widespread debate and legal action. Court Restrains Kamal Haasan from Defamatory Statements

The court's order specifically bars 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 been summoned to appear in person for the next hearing, scheduled for August 30th.

The Origin of the Controversy

The controversy began when Kamal Haasan, during a promotional event for Thug Life in Bengaluru in May, stated that "Kannada was born out of Tamil." This statement angered Kannada activists and cultural organizations. The situation escalated when Haasan declined to retract his statement or issue an apology. Ultimately, Thug Life was not released in Karnataka, despite efforts from the production house and Kamal Haasan to appeal to the High Court. Thug Life Overview

Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, features Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, and other prominent actors. The film's performance at the box office was underwhelming.