‘Speak In Kannada': Bengaluru Woman's Response To Vox-Pop Host Triggers Debate
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Her firm assertion has resonated with many Kannadigas online, who feel that their language is increasingly being sidelined in Bengaluru.
A viral street interview from Bengaluru has reignited conversations around the ongoing language tensions in Karnataka. The widely circulated clip shows a Telugu-speaking vox pop host approaching locals for reactions to Royal Challengers Bengaluru's recent IPL victory. However, when he attempted to interview a woman, she calmly but firmly interrupted, insisting that he ask the question in Kannada.
Before responding, the woman said, 'Speak in Kannada first. You must ask the question in Kannada."
Momentarily taken aback, the host replied politely, saying he only knew 'Swalpa swalpa barutthe" — meaning 'just a little" in Kannada. Without missing a beat, the woman encouraged him with a smile, 'Swalpa swalpane mathadi, paravagilla" — 'That's okay, you can speak even a little Kannada."
You should first speak in Kannada!Actually swalpa swalpa barutthe(Actually i know a little bit of Kannada)
Swalpa swlapane mathadi paravagilla (that's okay you can converse in a little bit of Kannada only)
That's Kannadathi for you 🙌🙌🙌 pic.twitter.com/YVbzXMDUTL
— ರವಿ-Ravi ಆಲದಮರ (@AaladaMara) June 7, 2025
Her calm yet firm assertion has resonated with many Kannadigas online, who feel that their language is increasingly being sidelined in Bengaluru's multilingual urban landscape. However, the video has sparked widespread attention and a wave of mixed reactions on social media. While many applauded the woman for respectfully standing up for Kannada, others criticised the moment as yet another instance of the city's ongoing and, at times, exhausting language politics.
Another said, 'Good on you, Kannada girl. Keep it up. Polite and assertive."
'Did anyone ask the RCB players to learn Kannada before playing for Bengaluru? Puchta hai Bharat," quipped a user.
An individual said, 'Now KANNADIGAS are getting awakened after the ignorance and arrogance came to light and also after some people showed that you are sidelined in your own Karnataka."
'When someone asks for Kannada politely, it reminds others to respect the place they're in," another comment said.
This incident is the latest in a series of events that have thrust Bengaluru's language debates into the spotlight. Just a few months ago, another viral video, reportedly filmed in Mumbai, showed individuals struggling to identify Kannada as the official language of Bengaluru. In the vox pop-style clip, several people mistakenly guessed Hindi, Tamil, or English, sparking outrage and renewed discussions about linguistic awareness and regional identity.
ತಪ್ಪು ಅವರದಲ್ಲ… pic.twitter.com/xOFXgHPILo — Ice Candy ಗೋಪಾಲ (@IceCandyGopalaa) March 2, 2025
The clip sparked outrage among Kannada speakers, many of whom felt that their language is gradually fading with time and being overlooked in broader public discourse.
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