In recent years, we have seen how Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films have won the hearts of millions across the country. Movies like ‘Baahubali’, ‘K.G.F’, ‘RRR’, ‘Pushpa’, etc. have gathered a massive and loyal fanbase, especially amongst the Hindi speaking audience.
At an event, Sudeep Sanjeev, who is primarily an actor from the Kannada film industry, spoke about Hindi not being the National language any longer. This happened during the trailer launch of the film ‘R: The Deadliest Gangster Ever’ where he corrected someone when they talked about the “pan-India” reach of South films.
Kannada Actor @KicchaSudeep said ,"correct it,Hindi is no more the National Language, its no more a National language"!
In a film launch & a huge applause from the crowd & the media.Hope the efforts of Kannada activists are reaching the intended places.👏👏#stophindilmposition pic.twitter.com/qpj06HJseG
— ರವಿ-Ravi ಆಲದಮರ (@AaladaMara) April 23, 2022
NDTV quoted him saying, “Everyone says that a Kannada film (talking about ‘K.G.F. Chapter 2’) was made on a pan-India level but a small correction is that Hindi is not a national language anymore.”
He further took a dig at Bollywood and said that they are the ones who are making “pan-India” films which are released in Tamil and Telugu but fail to find the same amount of success as South films.
Ajay Devgn took notice of the incident and directly addressed Sudeep in a tweet.
He wrote in Hindi, “My brother, according to you if Hindi is not our national language then why do you release your mother tongue movies by dubbing them in Hindi? Hindi was, is and always will be our mother tongue and national language. Jana Gana Mana.”
.@KicchaSudeep मेरे भाई,
आपके अनुसार अगर हिंदी हमारी राष्ट्रीय भाषा नहीं है तो आप अपनी मातृभाषा की फ़िल्मों को हिंदी में डब करके क्यूँ रिलीज़ करते हैं?
हिंदी हमारी मातृभाषा और राष्ट्रीय भाषा थी, है और हमेशा रहेगी।
जन गण मन ।— Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) April 27, 2022
Sudeep, on the other hand, responded to Ajay Devgn’s tweet and said that his statement is being taken out of context and that he didn’t intend to start a debate.
Hello @ajaydevgn sir.. the context to why i said tat line is entirely different to the way I guess it has reached you. Probably wil emphasis on why the statement was made when I see you in person. It wasn't to hurt,Provoke or to start any debate. Why would I sir 😁 https://t.co/w1jIugFid6
— Kichcha Sudeepa (@KicchaSudeep) April 27, 2022
However, several people online called out Ajay Devgn because as a matter of fact, India doesn’t have a national language. The Indian constitution in 1950 declared Hindi in Devanagari script the Official Language of the Union. This means that Hindi, in Devanagari script, was to be used in parliamentary proceedings and during the making of laws.
Also, the idea to impose a single language on the entire country which has 22 scheduled languages, excluding several other indigenous languages, is an attack on India’s linguistic diversity.
Hello mr @ajaydevgn ur from a punjabi family, who does Hindi films and stay in a Marathi providence. Respect all languages all through our mother India which is so divine. U don’t have the right to question @KicchaSudeep who’s at least sticking to his state.. https://t.co/MNoYPnV6ja
— Karthik Rajamohan (@frontiernet) April 27, 2022
I can not read Hindi but Twitter translation shows last sentence as "Jan Gan Man".
This is a reminder to those who argue Hindi is our National language, our National Anthem is not in Hindi.
Respect All Languages. https://t.co/FbL0RAQXyj— P R Sundar (@PRSundar64) April 27, 2022
Jan Gan Man is in Bengali not in Hindi @ajaydevgn and movies are getting dubbed in Hindi because of the market not considering it as a national language. 🙏🏻😃 @KicchaSudeep more power to you sir, thanks for raising the voice. Much needed 🙏🏻 #HindiIsNotNationalLanguage https://t.co/JemDbNUI2b
— Sandesh Mysore (@SandeshMysore7) April 27, 2022
Hindi was never & will never be our National Language.
It is the duty of every Indian to respect linguistic diversity of our Country.
Each language has its own rich history for its people to be proud of.
I am proud to be a Kannadiga!! https://t.co/SmT2gsfkgO
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 27, 2022
No- Hindi is not our national language. @ajaydevgn Your ignorance is baffling. And it’s great that films like KGF Pushpa and RRR have done so well in the Hindi belt- art has no language barrier.
Please enjoy our films as much as we enjoy yours- #stopHindiImposition https://t.co/60F6AyFeW3— Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) April 27, 2022
The Hindi film industry and its members taking offense to dubbed content would do better if they produced original content to compete with good movies from other Indian languages instead of acting like… this. https://t.co/jZZJkepBA3
— Anusha Ravi Sood (@anusharavi10) April 27, 2022
Mr AjayDevagan ,
Please spend some good time on reading constitution at least once in a year
You will surely come out of your ignorance .
There is no National Language for India and all the languages are having equal importance in our constitution@ajaydevgn https://t.co/vLGlHsq605
— Dr H.C.Mahadevappa (@CMahadevappa) April 27, 2022
Let us start from the basics India doesn’t have any‘National language’ & let us not break the diversified multi-linguistic fabric of the country including ur mother language & we are proud about the fact that we are KANNADiGA 💛❤️
support good cinemas #NoHate #KFIOurPride https://t.co/rFDBs2wGYv— GC ChandraShekhar (@GCC_MP) April 27, 2022
It's not like WE want the movies to be in #Hindi, we like it in #Kannada. We just want everyone to enjoy movies hence it's done.
Secondly, Hindi is OUR national lang? Who said? Shows lack of basic knowledge about what is official & what isn't. #HindiImposition beda .@ajaydevgn https://t.co/KRdmwNpeqC— Suraj Suresh (@Suraj_Suresh16) April 27, 2022
High levels of illiteracy can only make people think ‘one of the official language’ as national language 😂 @KicchaSudeep anna thanks for making it clear once more! https://t.co/nEPrN0VM6N
— Arindam (@Tweeting_Ari) April 27, 2022
What are your views on this incident? Tell us.