The Karnataka High Court issued a stern warning to actor-politician Kamal Haasan on June 3, cautioning him that his right to free speech does not extend to making statements that hurt public sentiments. This follows a recent controversy sparked by Haasan’s claim that the Kannada language “was born out of Tamil,” which ignited strong backlash across Karnataka.
During a hearing on a petition concerning the release of Kamal Haasan’s upcoming film Thug Life in Karnataka, the High Court delivered pointed observations, urging the veteran actor to act with responsibility and sensitivity.
The court acknowledged Haasan’s constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression but firmly stated that this right is not absolute. “You have a right to speech, but not to hurt sentiments,” the bench observed, underlining that even fundamental rights must be exercised within reasonable limits, especially when they concern the cultural pride of an entire linguistic community.
Recognising Haasan’s public stature, the court reminded him, “You are not an ordinary man.” As a celebrity and political figure, his words carry significant weight, the judges noted, adding that such remarks have the potential to disturb social harmony. The court made this observation while hearing a plea to prevent any obstruction to the release of Thug Life in Karnataka, amid calls for a boycott by pro-Kannada groups.
The bench offered Haasan an opportunity to defuse tensions, stating, “We are leaving this to you now… apologise if you have hurt anyone.” Last week, Haasan had dismissed demands for an apology, standing by his controversial comment. However, the court urged him to reconsider, emphasising that expressing regret when public feelings are hurt does not weaken one’s position but reflects maturity.
In a more pointed remark, the court advised Haasan to withdraw his statement, warning that alienating a region could have economic consequences: “Crores can be earned from Karnataka… but if you don’t need the people, then leave the revenue.”
Closing its observations, the court reiterated that it would not permit public sentiment to be trivialised. It said, “When mistakes happen, you should say, ‘It is in this context I spoke, but if it has hurt anyone, I apologise.’” The judges clarified that their intent was not to censor artistic expression but to protect cultural dignity and promote mutual respect between linguistic communities.
As of now, Kamal Haasan has not issued any formal response to the court’s suggestion. The case has drawn national attention, raising questions about the fine line between artistic freedom and social responsibility, especially in a linguistically diverse country like India.
