Amidst the escalating controversy sparked by Kamal Haasan’s statement that “Kannada was born from Tamil,” Kannada actor Shivrajkumar, who was present as the chief guest at the event where the remark was made, has finally addressed the issue. However, he refrained from directly criticizing the Tamil actor.
While Haasan’s comments drew sharp criticism from politicians and a significant number of online users, Shivrajkumar also faced backlash for his initial silence on the matter until yesterday. The Kannada film star has now come to Haasan’s defense, stating that the veteran actor is his favorite and that his father shared a “special relationship” with him.
During an event in Chennai for his upcoming film Thug Life, Kamal Haasan had begun his speech with the words, “Uyire Urave Tamizhe (My life, and my family, is in Tamil language). Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil, so you too are included.”
In response to the ensuing uproar, Shivrajkumar has stepped forward to support his fellow actor, asserting that Haasan harbors “love for Kannada.”
“I really like Kamal Haasan, he is my favorite. My father and Kamal Haasan had a special relationship, and because of that, I’m not just a fan—I admire him deeply. I consider Kamal Haasan an inspiration. We just went to his program and came back, that’s all. Even Kamal Haasan has a love for Kannada. When he came to Bengaluru, he could have been asked then. Why make it a big issue now?” Shivrajkumar stated, highlighting his personal admiration for Haasan and suggesting that the controversy might be an overreaction.
