
Kannada-Tamil language row: Demanding Kamal Haasan's apology justified? Experts debate
The Karnataka High Court criticised actor Kamal Haasan while hearing a petition filed by him seeking directions to ensure the release and screening of his upcoming film Thug Life in the state.
Justice M Nagaprasanna questioned Haasan's refusal to apologise for the statement, observing that it had hurt public sentiment. Kamal Haasan came under fire in Karnataka for claiming that the Kannada language originated from Tamil, a remark that triggered strong opposition in the state. So, what explains the language wars? And is the demand for Kamal Haasan's apology justified? Watch as experts debate.
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Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
Thug Life controversy: How Kamal Haasan's Karnataka fans are watching the movie despite statewide ban
From Bengaluru to Hosur: A 42 Km Journey for Cinema Fans Seek Clarification Online What Sparked the Ban in Karnataka About 'Thug Life' Kamal Haasan's much-awaited film Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, hit theatres across India on June 5, 2025. While the release was celebrated in most parts of the country, fans in Karnataka were left disappointed after the film was banned in the state due to a language row. However, that hasn't stopped determined fans from finding a way to watch the to miss what is being seen as a historic collaboration between Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam after 36 years, fans from Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka have been travelling to Hosur, Tamil Nadu—just 42 kilometres away—to watch the film in response to the ban, many fans took to social media to share how they bypassed the restriction. One video posted on X showed fans gathered outside a single-screen theatre in Hosur, bursting firecrackers and celebrating the release. The caption read, 'Thuglife is banned in Karnataka, but no one can stop our love for Kamal Haasan. All the fans in Bangalore are gathered here in Hosur!'The excitement outside theatres in Tamil Nadu reflected the admiration fans hold for Kamal Haasan. For many, the inconvenience of travelling was insignificant compared to the opportunity to witness their favourite actor on the big around the travel also surfaced on Reddit, where one user from Bengaluru asked if it would be safe to visit Hosur to watch Thug Life. The user wrote, 'Big Kamal Haasan fan here from Bengaluru. Is it safe to come to Hosur tomorrow by bike to watch THUG LIFE? Don't get offended please... I just don't want my vehicle's tyre to be punctured or vehicle scratched.'In response, another fan reassured that it should be safe, pointing out the shared vehicle registration presence between the two regions. Others also noted that Hosur sees many KA-registered vehicles regularly, and Tamil audiences were unlikely to be offended by their ban stems from a statement made by Kamal Haasan during a promotional event. While addressing the audience, the actor said, 'Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil,' which triggered strong reactions from several pro-Kannada groups. A complaint was filed, and the Karnataka High Court later criticized the actor for not issuing an apology. The judge noted that the issue could have been resolved with a 'single apology' and questioned the actor's authority on the the backlash, Kamal Haasan maintained that his words were misunderstood. In a letter to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), he clarified, 'It pains me that my statement at the Thug Life audio launch, spoken out of genuine affection for the legendary Dr. Rajkumar's family, especially Shiva Rajkumar has been misunderstood and taken out of context. My words were intended only to convey that we are all one and from the same family and not to diminish Kannada in any way.'Thug Life brings together Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam after nearly four decades, their last collaboration being the 1987 film Nayakan. The movie features a star-studded cast, including Silambarasan TR, Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Rohit Saraf, and Baburaj.


Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
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New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
'Thug Life' movie review: A promising gangster drama bogged down by a generic revenge saga
Blood, Brotherhood, Betrayal. From the time world cinema began to be fascinated by the lives of gangsters, these three words have been the bedrock of every iteration of their story. More often than not, these gangsters escape the long arms of the law only to find themselves on the wrong end of the gun barrel. Godfather was no different. Nayakan was no different. And even if we thought otherwise, or were told otherwise, Mani Ratnam-Kamal Haasan's Thug Life, after a point, is no different. But till we reach that point, the film is a fascinating exploration of the life of an ageing gangster coming to terms with his frailties, and dealing with the same with sardonic wit and insatiable lust. But then, suddenly, Thug Life wants to become a revenge drama fuelled by age-old reasons for betrayal that makes you wonder… Is this really the Mani Ratnam-Kamal Haasan film we were waiting for? When we meet Rangaraya Sakthivel Nayakkar (Kamal Haasan) for the first time, he is battling the idea of death. He is a senior citizen who seems to have developed a knack for escaping the clutches of death. However, as he narrates his story, we are introduced to the world of young Amar, who would grow up to be Sakthivel's commander-in-chief. Mani Ratnam and the supremely effective Ravi K Chandran dish out a delicious sequence that gets us ready for a ride about two men, born out of violence, finding their lives inexplicably intertwined. Thug Life is very much about how these two strong-headed men find themselves at loggerheads. But it is also about how they are two ends of the same coin. This coin is tossed around by various people around them, including Sakthivel's brother Manikkam (Nasser), his henchmen Pathros (Joju George) and Anburaj (Bagavathi Perumal). Each of them have their reasons to want to be close to the throes of power, and it is interesting how they all play off each other and weave a web of deceit and lies. This is a particularly fascinating phase in the film because it is not every day that we see a vulnerable gangster. These portions play out like a Shakespearean tragedy riddled with wry humour that works like a dream.