Karnataka HC Notes Kamal Haasan’s Silence, Allows Kannada Group’s Implead Application In Language Row

The case stems from a statement made by Kamal Haasan during the audio release of the film, where he had said that Kannada was born out of Tamil Language.

The application sought intervention in the producer's pleas against the ban on the film's release in the state.

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Actor Kamal Haasan has not yet issued an apology for his controversial remarks on Kannada language, observed the Karnataka High Court on Friday and directed the producer of his latest film 'Thug Life' to respond to an application filed by Kannada Sahitya Parishat. The application sought intervention in the producer's pleas against the ban on the film's release in the state.

The Parishat wanted to place before the Court, the constitutional, cultural and linguistic concerns arising from the statements made by Haasan, particularly from the perspective of protecting the identity, dignity and historical legacy of the Kannada language and culture.

The case stems from a statement made by Haasan during the audio release of the film, where he had said that Kannada was born out of Tamil Language.

The remark led to a huge controversy and Karnataka leaders and the Film Chamber of the state demanded that the actor withdraw his statement and tender an apology. However, he declined to apologise and opted against releasing the movie in Karnataka on June 5, when it was released worldwide.

On Friday, the counsel for production house Raaj Kamal Films International submitted that the actor would need a week's time to file objections to the Kannada Sahitya Parishat's impleadment application.

Justice M Nagaprasanna, who heard the case, posted the matter to June 20.

Earlier, Raaj Kamal Films International filed a petition seeking adequate security for the movie's release in the state.

When the matter came up for hearing before Justice Nagaprasanna on June 3, counsel for the petitioner maintained that there was no malice and an apology was not warranted and submitted that the screening of the movie would not be insisted upon in the state till the issue gets resolved through dialogue.

During the hearing, Haasan came in for strong criticism from the court for his remark, and the court observed that a "single apology could have resolved the situation". 

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)