South Indian superstar Kamal Haasan, who is preparing to enter the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu, has once again landed in controversy due to his comments on language. While promoting his upcoming film Thug Life, the actor spoke out against the imposition of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states, stressing the importance of linguistic freedom in the country.
Earlier Kannada Controversy
This isn’t the first time Haasan has been caught in a language-related row. He previously claimed that the Kannada language originated from Tamil, which sparked major backlash in Karnataka. The controversy escalated to the point where Thug Life couldn’t be released in the state. Despite the uproar, Haasan refused to apologize and instead highlighted his contributions to Hindi cinema.
Clear Stance on Language Policy
Speaking on Sunday, Haasan reminded the public of his role in the 1981 film Ek Duuje Ke Liye, where a Tamil-speaking man falls in love with a Hindi-speaking woman. The film was a major success and symbolized cultural and linguistic harmony. During a media interaction, Haasan reaffirmed his clear position on language imposition: “You can learn a language without forcing it on people. That’s the essence of real education. Our focus should be on learning, not on enforcing language.”
Not Just a Southern Resistance
Haasan emphasized that opposition to Hindi isn’t limited to the southern states. “I stand with Punjab, with Karnataka, with Andhra Pradesh,” he said. “The resistance to imposing Hindi isn’t just a southern phenomenon. We should adopt a language that’s globally relevant. English, in that sense, is more beneficial. One could even learn Spanish or Chinese. But English has been part of our education system for over 350 years. Replacing it would be disastrous. Many in Tamil Nadu could remain uneducated if that happens.”
