Thug Life To Vishwaroopam And Uttama Villain: When Kamal Haasan's Films Sparked Row
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Kamal Haasan sparked controversy at the Thug Life audio launch event. However, this is not the first time that the actor is facing criticism ahead of his film's release.
Kamal Haasan has landed in a big controversy once again. Recently, the South superstar attended the Thug Life audio launch event in Chennai, where he made a statement linking the origins of the Kannada language to Tamil. The actor's remarks quickly went viral and has triggered backlash from pro-Kannada groups in Karnataka. They are not only demanding an apology from Haasan but also a ban on his upcoming movie.
However, this is not the first time that Kamal Haasan has sparked a controversy ahead of his film's release. Previously too, his films like Vishwaroopam and Uttama Villain faced a massive backlash for various reasons.
Here are some of Kamal Haasan's film controversies you must know about:
Vishwaroopam (2013)
Kamal Haasan's 2013 film faced opposition from Muslim groups for allegedly portraying their community negatively. The film was banned in Tamil Nadu and also saw massive protests in some other states for allegedly hurting Muslim sentiments. However, the Tamil Nadu ban was also lifted later after Kamal Haasan agreed to make some cuts to the film. The film's makers had also issued a statement clarifying that they did not intend to hurt anybody.
Uttama Villain (2015)
The Tamil Nadu branch of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad filed a lawsuit against the filmmaker, demanding a ban on the film, claiming it hurts the sentiments of the Hindu religion. The group objected to the lyrics of one of the songs, arguing it belittled a conversation between Prahlad and Hiranyakashipu. Directed by Ramesh Aravind and produced by N. Linguswamy and Kamal Haasan, the film faced controversy due to these allegations.
Dasavatharam (2008)
Kamal Haasan's magnum opus, Dasavatharam, faced controversies for depicting the clash between Saivism and Vaishnavism. The film was reportedly scrutinised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Hindu Munnani for its portrayal of the conflict between Shaivite and Vaishnavite saints during the 16th century AD. Both Hindu groups allegedly threatened to halt the movie's screening by protesting outside theatres.
Vasool Raja MBBS (2004)
Starring Prabhu alongside Kamal Haasan, this film was a remake of Munna Bhai MBBS. However, it drew criticism from the Indian Medical Association. The doctors found the film's title disrespectful and demanded a change. The Tamil Nadu Medical Council president, K R Balasubramanian, had also argued that the title mocked the medical profession and tarnished the fraternity's reputation.
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The Print
35 minutes 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.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
When Kamal Haasan changed his movie's title after finding no support from Jayalalithaa
On May 29, 2025, while some Kannada activists had just stepped up attacks on versatile actor Kamal Haasan for his controversial remark that 'Tamil gave birth to Kannada', the Thug Life star faced a mild salvo in his home State, Tamil Nadu. Puthiya Tamilagam party founder K. Krishnasamy objected to the film's title. The politician contended that the term 'Thugs' has been used historically to describe criminals, violent rogues and gangsters. The 'Thugs and Pindaris' were violent criminal gangs during the 18th and 19th century, he said adding, naming a film with the title 'Thug' in a way glorifies such rogue way of life. Therefore, he urged the actor to avoid naming his upcoming film Thug Life. Mr. Krishnasamy's appeal had little resonance. But, there was a time when opposition from him had forced the actor to change the original title of his film. In the summer of May 2003, when the actor's name was spelt Kamal Hassan, he had unveiled his next venture with much fanfare in Madurai – Sandiyar. The film's posters featured an aruval (machete). Mr. Krishnaswami objected to the title and accused the actor-producer of trying to inculcate an aruval culture in Tamil Nadu. He wanted Hassan to abandon the project. 'I will lead the agitation against the shooting of this controversial movie,' he declared. The film's shooting was halted. Initially, the actor tried to meet the then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa hoping to sort out the issue. However, she did not grant him an audience immediately. Instead, Jayalalithaa told journalists 'protracted' police protection cannot be given to a film unit, which, according to her, 'deliberately chooses a controversial subject.' The duty of the police was to protect the law and order and the lives of the people and not provide protection for a protracted period for shooting a film, she said. The Chief Minister added, if the police had a 'justified apprehension' that film shooting would create a law and order problem, they were well within their rights to refuse permission. 'Asked about the role of the State in protecting artistic freedom, Ms. Jayalalithaa, herself an ex-actress, said the police were not concerned with it,' a report in The Hindu on June 14, 2003 said. However, three days later, her Secretary – I, Sheela Balakrishnan, wrote to The Hindu, denying this. 'I would like to categorically state that no such remark was made by the Chief Minister,' she said. Questioning the Puthiya Tamilagam leader's action, The Hindu in an editorial posed: 'The question at this point is, will it not be premature, even immature, to judge a work even before the cameras have begun rolling, and the first scenes have been framed?' Around that time, Mr. Krishnasamy contended his party's protest against the shooting of Sandiyar was not aimed at Kamal Hassan, or a single movie but was against the decadence that had set in in the Tamil film industry. The title, Sandiyar, he said, had wrong connotations and villagers, especially in southern districts, were aware of the behaviour of certain elements who called themselves so. According to him, Sandiyar meant a 'terrorist at the village-level'. He said the actor had not attempted to justify or explain the title and it was not proper on Kamal Hassan's part to have attempted to meet Jayalalithaa to seek security for the shooting. Incidentally, Thol. Thirumavalavan (then known as T. Thirumavalavan), the leader of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (at that time, Dalit Panthers of India), welcomed Jayalalithaa's stand and appealed to the State government to take steps to ban films which tended to incite caste clashes. Caught in a spot, Kamal Hassan and his team, which was camping in a hotel in Theni, wound up and returned to Chennai. A court set erected at Chettiyar Hall in Uthamapalayam was also removed. A few days later, on June 20, 2003, the actor had a 25-minute meeting with Jayalalithaa at the Secretariat. Emerging from the Chief Minister's office, Kamal Haasan dramatically declared that the title Sandiyar was being dropped. 'The problems are over. The shooting will begin in Tamil Nadu,' he told journalists. Insisting that he had not yielded to pressure, he said, 'If the title was the cause of the problem, I would change it.' Asked about the new title, he said, 'I have not yet decided. But it could be given any title. Even a name like Sakalakalavallavan — the title of an earlier blockbuster, would do for the film. For the story is strong and would work under any title.' Asked whether the Chief Minister had advised him to scrap the title, he said it was his own decision, and she said it was a 'good idea', a report in The Hindu said. When a journalist asked him about attempts by politicians to politicise the film, he merely said: 'What I feel I need not say here. It is enough if I convey it through the film.' The shooting of the film resumed but again was halted in mid-September. But this time, the actor said the location was shifted from Dindigul not for political reasons, but because the lakes in the district were dry and there was a delay in obtaining 'necessary equipment.' The film then got a new title, Virumaandi. During its audio cassette launch in December 2003, ace film director K. Balachander, a mentor to Kamal Hassan, had this to say: 'Kamal has emerged unscathed from the ordeal. In fact, he has to be grateful to the people who were causing him all that misery. But for them, this film would not have had this wonderful title — Virumaandi — which is an unusual name.' The crowd rose as one man in applause. Footnote: In August 2014, a Tamil film titled Sandiyar was released. At that time, there was hardly any whisper of a protest.
India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
Kamal Haasan's Kannada remark controversy escalates
On this episode of Super 6, the focus is on the controversy surrounding Kamal Haasan's comments about the Kannada language emerging from Tamil. The Karnataka High Court has demanded an apology from Haasan, calling him arrogant for refusing to say sorry. The issue has escalated, with pro-Kannada groups opposing the release of Haasan's upcoming film 'Thug Life' in Karnataka. The actor maintains he will not apologise, stating his comments were made out of love.
