My love for Karnataka is true, won’t apologise: Kamal Haasan

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan, facing controversy for his "Kannada was born out of Tamil" remark, on Friday yet again declined to apologise and said he believed in law and justice and his love for Karnataka was true.

He claimed that the alleged warning by pro-Kannada groups threatening to boycott his upcoming film Thug Life if he does not apologise for his remark, was not new and that he has been threatened in the past.

With opposition building up against him in neighbouring Karnataka, the South Indian Artistes’ Association has expressed support to Haasan and appealed to people not to alienate themselves in the name of language.

"This is a democratic country. I believe in law and justice. I believe love will always triumph. My love for Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala is true. Nobody will suspect it except those who have an agenda. I have been threatened before. If I am wrong, I will apologise. If I am not, then I won’t,” Haasan told reporters outside Anna Arivalayam, the DMK state headquarters, in Chennai.

The 70-year-old actor-politician, who heads the Makkal Needhi Maiam party, called on Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin, deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, and senior DMK leaders at the party headquarters.

Haasan said the meeting was also related to preparatory work for the Rajya Sabha election; such as filing nominations. The DMK has given Makkal Needhi Maiam a Rajya Sabha seat. MNM described the meeting as a 'courtesy visit'.

The veteran actor stoked controversy during the audio launch event for Thug Life in Chennai, by remarking that Kannada was born out of Tamil. The Kannada Film Chamber of Commerce has threatened to ban his upcoming film if he does not tender an apology. His remark also drew sharp protests in Karnataka.

Meanwhile, the South Indian Artistes' Association claimed that a few people have not only misinterpreted the words expressed by Haasan but also were spreading that misunderstanding like wildfire. "This is causing unnecessary embarrassment and tension,” the association said in a statement in Chennai.

The actor, who has consistently emphasised that all be given due importance, was a voice of unity and a symbol of brotherhood. This thought manifested as Haasan implemented various welfare projects in Karnataka for over 40 years through the 'Karnataka Kamal Haasan Charity Movement', the statement said.

The statement also recalled that Kannada actor Sivarajkumar, who was present at the audio launch, recounted the cherished relationship between his father Rajkumar and Haasan.

"This being the case, it is completely unacceptable to spread a false information campaign that Mr Kamal Haasan was against the Kannada language. No one with self-introspection and reason would allow such injustice to be done to a great artiste who has dedicated his life to the work of art, regardless of caste, religion, race or language, and crossed state and national boundaries," the statement said.

Allowing certain individuals to use Haasan as a tool to divide Kannada and Tamil people for their own personal gains was a wrong precedent and could go down as a huge black mark in history, the association said and appealed to the people of Karnataka to understand the true meaning of the words uttered by Haasan as an expression of his inner love and try to halt the slander being systematically spread against him.