The South Indian Artistes’ Association (SIAA), the representative body of film, television, and stage actors in Tamil Nadu, has come out strongly in defence of veteran actor Kamal Haasan amid backlash over his recent remarks on Kannada.
In a statement issued on Friday, May 30 the association urged the Karnataka government, the Kannada film industry, and the people of the state to consider the true intent behind Haasan’s comments. It warned that the current campaign against the actor could set a “dark precedent” in the world of cinema and public discourse.
The SIAA said it was deeply unjust to misrepresent a “renowned and respected figure” like Haasan, who has consistently promoted unity beyond regional and linguistic boundaries. “To portray Kamal Haasan as anti-Kannada is entirely unacceptable,” the statement said, adding that no individual with “awareness and rationality” would support such a narrative.
“Kamal Haasan is a legendary artist who has transcended barriers of caste, religion, race, and language,” the statement read. “To question his integrity is to insult decades of cultural unity and artistic excellence.”
The association also invoked Haasan’s deep connections with Karnataka, citing his close friendship with legendary Kannada actor Dr Rajkumar and his ties to playwright-actor Girish Karnad. It recalled Kamal Haasan’s public appeal for Dr Rajkumar’s release when he was abducted by forest brigand Veerappan in 2000. “He has always considered Dr Rajkumar as a brother and holds Dr Shivarajkumar in the regard of a son,” the letter added.
The controversy erupted following the audio launch of Thug Life, where the actor said, “Tamil gave birth to Kannada.” The remark drew sharp criticism from pro-Kannada groups, who accused the actor of belittling Kannada and hurting the sentiments of Kannadigas. Protests have since erupted across Karnataka, with some activists threatening to block the release of the film.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Film Chamber has threatened to ban the actor’s upcoming film Thug Life, which is scheduled for release on June 5, 2025.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also weighed in on the controversy. “Kannada has a long and well-documented history. Poor Kamal Haasan. He is simply unaware of it,” the Chief Minister said.
BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, called the actor a “mental patient” and accused him of insulting the cultural identity of the Kannada language. Ashoka further alleged that Haasan has a history of making disparaging comments about Karnataka and Kannada. “I urge the government to ban all Kamal Haasan films in Karnataka. If not, he will continue to behave like a mental patient,” he said.
Both Kannada and Tamil belong to distinct branches of the Dravidian language family, tracing their origins to a common proto-Dravidian ancestor. Linguists note that while the two languages share ancestral roots, they have evolved independently over centuries, each developing its own rich literary and cultural traditions.
The controversy comes at a politically significant moment for Kamal Haasan, whose party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), recently secured a Rajya Sabha seat through its alliance with the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu.