Bengaluru court restrains Kamal Haasan from making statements defaming Kannada

A Bengaluru city civil and sessions court on Friday (July 4, 2025) issued an ex-parte temporary injunction restraining actor Kamal Haasan from making any statements having the effect of causing hurt or defaming the Kannada language, literature, land and culture.

Also Read | Rule of law must prevail, Supreme Court tells Karnataka on Thug Life screening

The court also restrained the actor from posting, issuing or publishing or making any statement or remarks claiming linguistic superiority over Kannada language.

Madhu N.R., judge of the 30th Additional City Civil and Sessions Court, passed the order on a suit filed by the Kannada Sahithya Parishat (KSP), Bengaluru.

Also Read | Kamal Haasan moves Karnataka High Court for ‘Thug Life’ release after boycott calls

Meanwhile, the court directed the KSP to give public advertisement stating that it has filed the suit in a representative capacity on behalf of Kannadigas, in terms of the provisions of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC), while ordering issue of notice to Mr. Haasan and adjourning further hearing till August 30.

The suit has been filed in connection with Mr. Haasan’s controversial statement, made on April 24 during the launch of his movie “Thug Life” in Chennai, in which the actor had claimed that “Kannada is born out of Tamil”.

“The reason that actor’s statement caused immense pain and anguish to people is because it is manifestly and objectively untrue and it has been made with a sense of chauvinism, superiority and arrogance....” it has been contended in the suit.

Though the issue of opposition to screen movie “Thug Life” in Karnataka has been adjudicated before the apex court, the KSP has said that the “defamatory and fallacious statement made by the defendant remains and continuous to hurt the sentiments of the people (including that of KSP) and has caused immense disrepute, disgrace and humiliation.”

Pointing out that the actor’s controversial statement is “patently and admittedly” false, the KSP has said that “in fact, both the languages are sister languages...”

While pointing out that Mr. Haasan has refused to tender an apology for his “false statement”, the KSP has sought a direction to him to tender an unconditional apology to the people of Karnataka and Kannadigas and withdraw his controversial statement on Kannada language.