Bengaluru court restrains Kamal Haasan from making any remark on Kannada language

Hearing a petition by pro-Kannada organisation Kannada Sahitya Parishat seeking an injunction against Haasan, an Additional City Civil and Sessions judge restrained the actor from making any defamatory remarks against Kannada language and culture.

In its ex parte (without the presence or response of the other party) order on Friday, the court restrained the actor from "posting, making, issuing, writing, publishing and/or distributing any statement or remarks claiming linguistic superiority over Kannada language or by making any statements having the effect of causing hurt or defaming the Kannada language, literature, land and culture" till the next hearing, which will be on August 30.

The court noted that the Kannada Sahitya Parishat "has been working towards the promotion of Kannada language, literature and culture across the state of Karnataka" and "is empowered to take any steps in the interest of Kannadigas, their literature and culture".

Kamal Haasan sparked a massive row last month over his comment that 'Kannada language was born out of Tamil'.

Speaking at an event in Chennai ahead of his upcoming film Thug Life's release, Haasan had said: "Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil, so you too are included (part of it)."

The comments stirred a sharp row in Karnataka with state BJP chief Vijayendra Yediyurappa calling the actor's behaviour "uncultured" and accusing him of insulting Kannada.

He later issued a clarification stating that his statement was made out of love.

"What I said was said out of love, and a lot of historians have taught me language history. I didn't mean anything. Tamil Nadu is a state where a Menon has been our Chief Minister, where a Reddy has been our Chief Minister, a Tamil has been our CM, and a Kannadiga Iyengar has been our Chief Minister," Haasan had said.

"Politicians are not qualified to talk about language, including me," he had said.