Thiruvananthapuram, May 28 -- In response to the controversy sparked by his recent comment suggesting that Kannada was born out of Tamil language, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) president and actor Kamal Haasan on Wednesday clarified that his statement was made "out of love."

Urging that such sensitive subjects be left to experts, Haasan said politicians -- including himself -- are not qualified to engage in academic discussions about language history.

"What I said was out of love, and a lot of historians have taught me language history. I didn't mean anything," Haasan said.

Haasan pointed out that leaders from various linguistic and regional backgrounds have served as the state's Chief Ministers and said, "Tamil Nadu is a state where a Men...