Kamal Haasan says he and Mani Ratnam 'want the audience to forget Nayakan' when they watch Thug Life
This is one of the most highly anticipated films, given that ace director Mani Ratnam and film legend Kamal Haasan have joined hands after 38 years. It was in 1987 that the two stalwarts worked together in Nayakan, which is featured on Time's All-Time 100 Best Films and is a cult classic. In a media meet for Thug Life in Chennai, Kamal Haasan, AR Rahman, Silambarasan, Trisha, Abhirami, and Ashok Selvan came together to talk about the film and their experiences. (Also read: Thug Life trailer: Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan clash in Mani Ratnam's action-packed gangster drama. Watch)
One of the biggest comparisons being made is obviously between Nayakan and Thug Life, as they are both crime dramas, and while in Nayakan, he was Velu Naicker, in Thug Life, he is Rangaraya Sakthivel Naicker. When Kamal Haasan was asked about the grand reunion with Mani Ratnam after 37 years and what had changed between Nayakan and Thug Life, he replied, 'I am a more experienced actor now. Both of us have also evolved – we are not the same Mani Ratnam or Kamal Haasan we were during Nayakan. Even AR Rahman is not the same music director since then. Mani has gone in the direction he has wanted, and if he has not achieved what he wanted to, it's only because of circumstances and not otherwise. We also want people to forget Nayakan when they watch this film. This is not related to that.'
Interestingly, the story of Thug Life has been written by Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam. 'I had written a script called Amar Hai, which was with me, and I told Mani about it. That story was then polished and reworked by Mani – so if you look at Amar Hai and then Thug Life, it won't be the exact same story now but that is the inspiration. This is what I believe is true collaboration,' Kamal stated.
Incidentally, Amar Hai was announced as a film around nine years ago and was to feature Kamal Haasan and Saif Ali Khan. But the movie was eventually dropped. The Amar Hai story was about a man named Amar, who is thought to be dead, but he is in fact alive. When the 16 Vayathinile star was asked about life and death, which played a role in this film, he replied, 'I don't separate death from life. Death is a part of life. Your conscience is immortal.'
The actor added that the synergy between everyone in the Thug Life cast was wonderful and they all understood the vision and worked well together. He smiled, 'Mani Ratnam orchestrated it well.' As for what has changed over the years, Kamal said that everything has changed in cinema over the years from the lights to the cameras to the cars people come in but what remained the same was that the actors who came to act were still the same.
When Hindustan Times asked Kamal Haasan what he would say if he could sum up his life in one line, Kamal Haasan smiled and said, "Life!" To this, actor Askok Selvan jokingly added, "Thug Life!"
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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
DK Shivakumar urges Kannada groups to stay calm amid Kamal Haasan controversy
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday appealed for calm from Kannada organisations, urging them not to stage protests in front of theatres over the ongoing controversy involving actor Kamal Haasan. He also expressed confidence that the veteran actor would respect the Karnataka High Court's directive in the matter. Also Read - RCB's Victory Parade today: Expect major traffic jams in Bengaluru's CBD area. Details The appeal comes amid mounting backlash against Haasan's recent remarks, where he allegedly claimed that Kannada was born out of Tamil. The statement sparked widespread criticism across Karnataka, leading to legal intervention and demands for a public apology from the actor. On Tuesday, the makers of Haasan's upcoming film 'Thug Life' informed the Karnataka High Court that the movie would not be released in the state on its scheduled release date of June 5. 'The Court would have weighed all factors before advising Kamal Haasan to apologise,' Shivakumar told reporters. 'I have spoken with scholars and literary experts, and they agree that Kannada and Tamil are sister Dravidian languages. I trust Kamal Haasan will honour the Court's observations,' he added. During the court proceedings, the bench criticised Haasan's remarks and said that a simple apology could have deescalated the situation. The court's tone reflected the seriousness with which the issue has been taken in Karnataka. Also Read - Bengaluru unites at BGS Ground as RCB fever grips city during IPL final with PBKS Responding to accusations from Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who alleged that the Congress government was being lenient due to its alliance with DMK in Tamil Nadu, Shivakumar hit back. 'The BJP thrives on dividing people, while the Congress unites. Both needle and scissors are made of iron, but one stitches while the other cuts. Congress is the needle,' he said. Shivakumar also warned against taking matters into one's own hands, stressing that the government would not tolerate any attempts to create unrest. 'We must avoid triggering tensions between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Thousands commute between the two states daily. I appeal to Kannada organisations not to protest outside theatres and disturb public order,' he said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘Thug Life' early review: Kamal Haasan & Mani Ratnam's film is a 'cult classic' with goosebumps inducing scenes
Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan 's much-anticipated reunion after 36 years has finally materialized in the form of 'Thug Life,' a pan-Indian film set for release on June 5. Music composed by Oscar-winner A.R. Rahman, the film boasts a stellar cast including Silambarasan T.R. , Joju George, Trisha, Nassar, Ashok Selvan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi , and Sanya Malhotra. Kamal Haasan plays Rangaraya Sakthivel Nayakkar, a character that has already sparked major buzz. Their earlier collaboration, 'Nayakan' (1987), is considered one of Indian cinema's most iconic films, and the anticipation around this new venture is immense. Early review declares a cult classic in the making Ahead of the global release, the first review of 'Thug Life' by social media film critic Umair Sandhu has gone viral. After watching the Hindi-dubbed version in Mumbai during its censor screening, Sandhu tweeted that the film is a 'cult classic thriller' loaded with power-packed performances and gripping action. He particularly praised the chemistry and screen presence of Kamal Haasan and STR, calling their scenes 'goosebump-inducing. ' Umair Sandhu also called the AR Rahman-Mani Ratnam combination 'deadly' and rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em Monnerat (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo Controversy strikes in Karnataka over language remark Meanwhile, the film has stirred controversy in Karnataka, where Kannada groups are protesting its release over a past remark by Kamal about the Tamil origins of the Kannada language. They have demanded an apology, but supporters of Kamal, including members of his MNM party, have rallied behind him with posters and statements asserting that no apology will be made. Kamal Haasan took legal steps to ensure the film's release in the state, but it failed and the team has paused the film's release in Karnataka till June 10. Music, momentum & massive hype drive the film forward Despite the challenges, 'Thug Life' is gaining huge traction. With Rahman's chart-topping soundtrack and sky-high ticket bookings, industry watchers believe the film could replicate the success of 'Vikram.' The controversy may just be fueling more interest serving as unintentional but effective free promotion. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
'Words taken out of context,' Kamal writes to KFCC
BENGALURU: The fire ignited by Kamal Haasan's recent comments on the Kannada language shows no signs of dying down. What began as a linguistic remark has snowballed into a full-blown cultural standoff, with political leaders, pro-Kannada activists and film associations across Karnataka demanding an unambiguous apology from the veteran actor. Despite the growing outrage, Kamal Haasan has attempted to extinguish the flames with a two-page open letter addressed to KFCC President Narasimhulu. In the letter, Haasan expressed regret over the misunderstanding, clarifying that his statements were 'taken out of context' and never intended to 'diminish Kannada in any way'. His intent, he wrote, was simply to highlight the unity of Indian languages and cultures, and not to create division.
