'What I said was said out of love, didn't mean anything': Kamal Haasan clarifies Kannada language remark

"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 said on Wednesday evening.

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

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.

"One should love one's mother tongue, but showing disrespect in its name is uncultured behavior. Especially artists should have the culture of respecting every language. It is the height of arrogance and arrogance that an actor @ikamalhaasan who has acted in many Indian languages, including Kannada, has insulted Kannada by including actor Shivarajkumar in the glorification of his Tamil language," the state BJP chief said.

The controversy spiralled with pro-Kannada groups in Karnataka burning the actor's posters, and a film association discussing a possible ban on him ahead of his upcoming release.

The activists claimed that Kannada has a history spanning thousands of years and demanded that the actor apologise to the people of the state.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, a pro-Kannada organisation, went a step ahead and lodged an FIR with Bengaluru Police against Kamal Haasan for his remarks.

The outfits also staged demonstrations in various parts of the state, including Belagavi, Mysuru, Hubballi, Bengaluru, among others.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the Kannada language has a long history, which he claimed the actor was unaware of.

"Kannada language has a very long history....he (Kamal Hassan) doesn't know," Siddaramaiah told reporters.

Haasan's Thug Life will hit cinemas on June 5. This marks his 2nd collaboration with the National Award-winning auteur Mani Ratnam after almost four decades.