Director Mani Ratnam justifies Thug Life title: We are Gen-Z, it felt right
Director Mani Ratnam is one of the few filmmakers who is still making impressive films and has remained relevant across generations over the past 40 years. Speaking about the title of his upcoming film, 'Thug Life', he said they had been considering various options, and 'Thug life' felt right because he feels Gen-Z.During a press interaction in Mumbai, director Mani Ratnam revealed that the title 'Thug Life' was suggested by Kamal Haasan. 'It just felt right,' he said, explaining that they were exploring different options. He added, 'We are Gen-Z,' reflecting his awareness of changing trends and evolving audiences.advertisementActor Kamal Haasan, speaking about how quickly they finalised the title, said, 'We were looking at various titles. We kept telling each other different options. He just said yes to one title. That's how quickly we agreed on it.'
In recent times, the emphasis on changing generations and veteran directors evolving with trends has become increasingly important. Director Shankar, during the promotion of his last film 'Game Changer', said that he chose a very Instagram reel-style editing pattern to cater to Gen-Z audiences. Meanwhile, 'Thug Life' is one of the most anticipated films of 2025, featuring Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Nasser, Sanjana Krishnamoorthy and Ashok Selvan, among others. 'Thug Life' will release in cinemas on June 5.
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Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
A controversy that could well have been avoided
For reasons fair or foul, there have been many skirmishes and flashpoints between the two states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over nearly seven decades since both were carved out as independent states. While justifications from both sides abound for each of the incidents that stirred passions, created riotous situations and severely created law and order problems in both the neighbouring zones, there seems to be no stopping fresh troubles that seem to be breaking out ad nauseam. Ever since Tamil top star Kamal Haasan, known for his typical intellectual surmises on all things under the sun said 'Kannada is born out of Tamil' at a function in Chennai, it set off a furore in Karnataka. Like a typical cinema narrative, the usual villains did the usual things and kept the political temperature up. The hero, however, much like the film 'Thug Life' in which he is seen endorsing in many parts of the world, refused to accept that he had overstepped in this case and could have well been discreet with such matters in public domain. Quite clearly, all the players in this drama know that Haasan is using the oldest trick in the book of any publicity being good publicity in the cinema circles. With Tamil cinema market being the biggest across south India, with almost all states running its films in many prominent cities of the peninsula, it is incomprehensible why the Chennai actor refused to see reason. The latest is that the film is not likely to get a release in Karnataka, the biggest market after Tamil Nadu. Haasan has informed the High Court that he would not release his film on the earlier announced date for his Kannada fans to watch him in action. Interestingly, what Judge Nagaprasanna said, while adjourning the case, deserves mention. As a news agency report wrote: 'The judge further questioned Haasan's authority to make such claims, asking, 'Are you a historian or a linguist to make such a statement? No language is born out of another.' He added, 'A single apology could have resolved the situation.' Justice Nagaprasanna stressed the importance of respecting cultural sensitivities and remarked, 'Water, land, and language — Jala, Nela, Bashe — are sacred to the people'. Adding further, the judge had pointed out that an illustrious person like C. Rajagopalachari had issued a similar statement in 1950 about the origins of the Kannada language and later apologised following protests, even though there was no commercial motive. 'If such a big person can apologise, and a similar statement has been issued after 75 years, and there is a commercial motive...' the court observed. Surely, the matter is not going to end here. If Haasan has won the battle for the moment, by the time the case comes up for hearing again a week from now, the public would know who has won the war. Not to be missed is the cool-headed handling of the controversy by the Congress government, which has flayed the hero for his observations, but in an even-tempered tone kept the socio- political pot from boiling over. After all, there is a hyperactive BJP waiting and watching.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
No apology, won't release film in K'taka: Haasan
Bengaluru: Actor Kamal Haasan told the Karnataka high court on Tuesday he will not release his upcoming film, Thug Life, in the state for now, amid a growing controversy over his recent remarks on the origin of the Kannada language, asserting he had nothing to apologise for. It came after the high court strongly criticised Haasan for his remarks suggesting that 'Kannada was born out of Tamil', saying he might be a big star but he had no right to hurt the sentiments of the people of Karnataka. The court observed that a 'single apology could have resolved the situation'. Haasan's counsel, senior advocate Dhyan Chinappa, informed a bench of justice M Nagaprasanna that the actor and his production company, Raajkamal Films International, had decided to withhold the film's release in the southern state at least until they engage in a 'dialogue' with the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), which has demanded an apology and barred the film's screening in the state. Chinappa argued that Haasan's written statement submitted to the KFCC earlier in the day conveying his love and respect for the Kannada language and its people was a sincere and adequate response to the controversy. Haasan should not be compelled to apologise in a prescribed format, he added. 'Apology is required only if there is malice, and there is no malice here,' Chinappa submitted, adding that Haasan's comments, made during the audio launch of Thug Life in Chennai on May 24, were not intended to undermine Kannada or its speakers and were expressed in a spirit of goodwill. 'He has expressed nothing but affection and admiration for the language and the state,' the counsel added. The court, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the actor-filmmaker's refusal to apologise and questioned the absence of a simple gesture that could have defused the situation. 'Discretion is the better part of valour,' justice Nagaprasanna remarked, quoting Shakespeare, and urged the actor to show humility. 'You are not an ordinary man. You are a public figure. You create a circumstance, you cause unrest, and now you want protection from the state machinery. This entire situation could have been solved with a simple apology,' the judge said, while hearing the plea filed by the producers of the movie, seeking protection to ensure the smooth release of the film in the state. The single-judge bench viewed the video of Haasan's statement and asked why he was resisting an apology when he knew his remarks had 'undermined en masse' the sentiments of the people of Karnataka. 'You might be Kamal Haasan or anybody, but you cannot hurt the sentiments of the masses,' the court observed. 'In a country where language is an emotional issue, a public figure cannot make such sweeping statements. There is unrest and disharmony today because of what you said.' Justice Nagaprasanna also criticised the tone of the actor's written statement to KFCC, saying it read like a 'declaration of justification' rather than a genuine attempt to heal the situation. The judge further said that the last Governor General of India, C Rajagopalachari, remarked in 1950 that Kannada was born out of Tamil, but later apologised after being corrected by Kannada writers. 'This is not an apology. There is not even a line that says, 'If I have hurt anyone's sentiments, I apologise.' Even C Rajagopalachari made a similar remark 75 years ago and later apologised,' Justice Nagaprasanna said. The court posted the matter for further hearing on June 10. During the hearing, Haasan's counsel argued that blocking the film's release infringed on the rights of those who wanted to watch it. However, the court pushed back, saying fame cannot shield one from responsibility. 'You want police protection, but are unwilling to utter one word that could calm the unrest. You are sticking to your stand because of your ego,' the judge remarked. The matter also took political colour, with Haasan's counsel hinting that the opposition to his film's release was being done probably because there was some support from the Karnataka government. Besides several Kannada groups that have been holding protests in several parts of the state demanding Haasan's apology, Karnataka minister for Kannada and culture Shivaraj Tangadagi on May 29 wrote to KFCC, urging that all films featuring Haasan be banned in the state if he failed to apologise. 'Despite the actor's stature, the people of Karnataka cannot tolerate his remarks on their land, water, and language,' Tangadagi said. In the high court, Chinappa cited a precedent from 2018 involving actor Rajinikanth, who had made remarks about the Cauvery water dispute before the release of his film, Kaala. When the court pointed out that Rajinikanth had apologised, Haasan's lawyer said it came after the Tamil actor had been granted interim protection. The senior advocate also made a plea for cultural unity, saying: 'All of us have to survive here. Linguistically we may be different, but we are all the same. We are all Indians.' Acknowledging the sentiment, the court underlined the importance of choosing words wisely. 'There are many ways to clarify a mistake. But there is only one way to apologise,' the judge said. In its order, the court issued notices to the state government and the KFCC and fixed the next hearing for June 10. Reacting to the development, Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar said Haasan should immediately apologise for his comments. 'If Kamal Haasan has made a mistake, he should apologise. The court will take necessary action,' he told reporters. Slamming the actor for 'speaking insensitively' about the Kannada language, veteran BJP leader BS Yediyurappa said that he must respectfully apologise to Kannada and Kannadigas. 'His behaviour, which unnecessarily disrupts peace, harmony, and unity, is not right. In the fervour of expressing his opinion, he has hurt the sentiments of crores of Kannadigas, and he must respectfully apologise to Kannada and Kannadigas. Apologising does not make anyone smaller, nor does arrogance make anyone greater!,' he wrote on X.
The Print
2 hours ago
- The Print
Kamal Haasan remarks: Karnataka HC raps actor for refusing to apologise
Haasan's production house, Raaj Kamal Films International, had sought adequate security for the movie's release in the state amid widespread protests and a boycott call by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce following the actor's remark. The KFCC has also demanded that Haasan apologise. The movie will not be released in Karnataka on June 5, the scheduled date for the pan-India release, its producers told the court on Tuesday, following which it postponed the hearing to June 10. Bengaluru, Jun 3 (PTI) Here are some of the observations made by the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday as it rapped the actor-politician Kamal Haasan for refusing to apologise for his 'Kannada was born out of Tamil' remark while hearing a plea seeking protection for release of his movie 'Thug Life' in the state. Observing that a 'single apology (by Haasan) could have resolved the situation,' Justice Nagaprasanna said, 'Freedom of expression cannot be extended to the extent of hurting someone's sentiment, of a mass in particular.' Noting that the actor's recent statement has stirred the hornets' nest and triggered certain unrest in Karnataka among the people, the Judge said it has undermined the sentiment of language attached to the people of the state. 'Language is an emotional and cultural identity of a people,' and stressed that no individual has the right to make comments that undermine the pride of an entire linguistic community, the court observed. Justice Nagaprasanna asked, 'Are you (Kamal Hassan) a historian or a linguist to make such a statement? No language is born out of another. A single apology could have resolved the situation.' 'Jala, Nela, and Bashe (Water, land, and language) are crucial to citizens. The division of this country itself was based on linguistic lines,' he observed. Pointing out that C Rajagopalachari (the then Governor-General of India) made a similar statement about the language but apologised for it, the Judge said, '….If Rajagopalachari could tender a public apology 75 years ago, why can't you (Kamal Haasan)? For your commercial interest, you have approached this court seeking police protection for a situation created by you.' Citing from the petition that Rs 300 crore is spent on the movie Thug Life and after Nayagan this was the first cinema by Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam together, Justice Nagaprasanna said, 'You (Haasan) know the importance (of the movie), but you can't make a statement (of apology)…..you want your film to run smoothly in a state whose sentiments you have hurt. If you are not concerned about it, why do you want it to be run in Karnataka. Leave it.' PTI KSU HIG This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
