<h1>Freedom of expression limited where comments hurt linguistic sentiments; apology could have averted film release unrest.</h1> The Karnataka High Court reprimanded Kamal Haasan for refusing to apologise for a remark that offended Kannada speakers, holding that freedom of expression does not extend to speech that hurts a linguistic community's cultural identity and that a single apology could have resolved the unrest. In a petition for police protection for the film's release, the court criticised seeking state protection for a situation created by the actor, noted commercial interests in the film, and recorded that the release in the state was postponed pending further hearing.