Kamal Haasan moves Karnataka HC, seeks protection over ‘Thug Life' release
India
Amid mounting protests over his comments on the Kannada language, actor-politician Kamal Haasan has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking protection to ensure the smooth release of his latest film, 'Thug Life', in the state.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
"#IStandWithKamalHaasan" trends as fans back actor amid 'Thug Life' Karnataka release row
Legendary Tamil actor has made the difficult choice not to release his highly anticipated pan-Indian gangster drama, 'Thug Life', in Karnataka on June 5. This decision follows a controversy over a statement he made regarding the origins of the Kannada language, which has led to protests and demands for an apology. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a letter to the Kannada Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), Kamal Haasan explained his stance, stating that apologies are reserved for mistakes, not misunderstandings, and therefore he would not retract his comments. The decision to forego the Karnataka release is expected to cost 'Thug Life' and its makers, including Kamal Haasan and director , an estimated Rs 12 to 15 crore as per a OneIndia report. Despite this financial setback, Kamal Haasan has found considerable support from fans and movie enthusiasts, with the hashtag "#IStandWithKamalHaasan" trending widely on social media. Supporters argue that Kamal Haasan's statement was rooted in linguistic history and not intended as an insult to Kannada. Many shared that Tamil is considered one of the oldest living languages in the world and that languages like Kannada have historical and linguistic ties to Tamil. Some users shared excerpts from Tamil textbooks that support this view, that Kamal Haasan's comments were based on factual information. One X user wrote, "What @ikamalhaasan said is 100% RIGHT. Tamil is the oldest living language in the world. Languages like Kannada & others have roots linked to Tamil — that's linguistic history, not offense. Truth doesn't need an apology. History doesn't need permission." Another user's tweet reads, "Respecting Kannada sentiments is important, but Tamil's historical influence on Kannada is a fact, not an insult. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Kamal Haasan's intent was misunderstood; his refusal to apologize is principled, not arrogant. Let's foster dialogue, not division. #ThugLife #IstandWithKamalHaasan." While acknowledging the importance of respecting Kannada sentiments, many fans and movie lovers have rallied behind Kamal Haasan, praising his integrity and commitment to his beliefs. Despite the absence of a Karnataka release, 'Thug Life' is still expected to have a strong opening this weekend. The film, directed by Mani Ratnam also stars Silambarasan TR, , Abhirami, Sanya Malhotra, and others.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘You may be Kamal Haasan, but can't hurt sentiments': What Karnataka HC told actor during 'Thug Life' plea hearing
The Karnataka High Court rebuked Kamal Haasan for his controversial remark about the origin of Kannada during a hearing regarding the ban on his film 'Thug Life'. NEW DELHI: The Karnataka high court delivered a sharp rebuke to actor Kamal Haasan on Tuesday during the hearing of a petition by his film's producers challenging a ban on the release of Thug Life in the state. Justice M Nagaprasanna questioned Haasan's refusal to apologise for his controversial remark that 'Kannada was born from Tamil,' stressing that no citizen, let alone a public figure, has the right to hurt linguistic sentiments. The judge underscored that Haasan's statement had stirred unrest and warned that freedom of expression cannot be stretched to offend the feelings of millions. 'One apology would have solved everything. Why the resistance?' he asked, pointing to the actor's insistence on standing by his words despite the backlash. The hearing on the petition filed by Raajkamal Films International, Chennai — producers of Thug Life starring Kamal Haasan — was adjourned to June 10 after the court took note of Haasan's recent communication to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC). The letter expressed his respect for Kannada and his regret over the embarrassment faced by Kannada actor Shivaraj Kumar but stopped short of an explicit apology, a key demand by the KFCC. Justice Nagaprasanna's remarks were stern and pointed throughout the hearing. The judge emphasized the deep emotional connection between language and identity in Karnataka, remarking, 'Jala, Nila, Bashe—three things are important to citizens.' He questioned the basis of Haasan's claim that Kannada originated from Tamil, asking, 'Are you a historian? Or a linguist?' and highlighted that such statements have caused 'disharmony' and undermined public sentiment. The court expressed frustration over Haasan's refusal to apologise, pointing out that the controversy was entirely self-created. 'Now you are here seeking police protection for a situation you yourself created! If you want your film to run here, an apology is necessary,' the judge said. 'Freedom of expression cannot be a shield to hurt the sentiments of the masses.' Senior Advocate Dhyan Chinappa, representing the producers, argued that Haasan's statement was not meant to offend and was taken out of context. However, the court insisted that acknowledging the hurt caused and offering an apology was the only way forward to diffuse the situation. 'You can say 'I made a statement without looking into the history,'' the judge suggested, citing a past example of a similar apology by Kannada scholar Sri Rajagopal Acharya. The court also noted that the KFCC had publicly declared they would not permit the screening of Thug Life until an apology was made. The petitioner producers submitted that they are willing to delay the film's release in Karnataka until a dialogue with KFCC resolves the issue. Justice Nagaprasanna concluded by observing that while India is a nation of many languages, unity must prevail over linguistic divisions. 'Languages may be many, country is still one,' he said, urging the parties to seek reconciliation. The court adjourned the matter to June 10 to allow time for talks and ordered notices to the state and central governments and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The controversy erupted after Kamal Haasan's statement suggesting that 'Kannada is born from Tamil,' which triggered widespread outrage in Karnataka. The KFCC swiftly announced a ban on the screening of Thug Life in the state, citing the actor's remarks as deeply offensive. The producers challenged this ban in the Karnataka high court, asserting that the film itself contains no content relating to the languages or such claims. They argued that the ban infringed on fundamental rights, including the freedom to exhibit the film certified by the CBFC.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Thug Life box office advance booking: Kamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam's reunion sells tickets worth Rs 9.6 crore, lower than Indian 2 and Vikram
Thirty-eight years after their last crime epic, Nayakan, actor Kamal Haasan and filmmaker Mani Ratnam are reuniting for another. Thug Life is all set to hit cinemas this Thursday, on June 5. However, if one goes by its advance booking figures, the buzz for the movie still much lower than Haasan's last two releases. The current advance booking of Thug Life in India amounts to Rs 3.29 crore. Out of this, the native Tamil version scores the biggest chunk at Rs 2.89 crore, followed by Telugu (Rs 26 lakh) and Hindi (Rs 14 lakh). Out of the Tamil version, the biggest chunk is of the 2D version (Rs 2.84 crore), followed by IMAX 2D (Rs 5 lakh) and 4DX (Rs 10,850). As per Sacnilk, combined with block seats, the total advance sales of Thug Life on Thursday stands at Rs 9.6 crore. While this is a significant number, the figure is much lower than Haasan's last two releases. S Shankar's vigilante film Indian 2 last year had advance sales of Rs 17.9 crore. Meanwhile, Lokesh Kanagaraj's 2022 action thriller Vikram clocked in Rs 15.3 crore as advance sales. The advance sales of Thug Life are also much lower than the two instalments of Ratnam's period epic Ponniyin Selvan, which released in 2022 and 2023 respectively. While PS1 sold tickets worth Rs 18.95 crore, PS 2 also registered advance sales worth Rs 11 crore. A big blow to Thug Life comes in the form of it not releasing in Karnataka on Thursday. The remarks made by Haasan at a promotional event in Chennai sparked a backlash in Karnataka, prompting the KFCC to announce that the film would not be screened in the state unless Haasan apologises. He has refused to do so. In response, the production company co-founded by Haasan filed a plea before the High Court seeking protection for the film's release. The Karnataka High Court rapped the actor-politician for refusing to apologise for his 'Kannada was born out of Tamil' remark. Observing that a 'single apology could have resolved the situation,' the HC said, 'Freedom of expression cannot be extended to the extent of hurting someone's sentiment, of a mass in particular… Spoken words cannot be taken back, and they can only be apologised….you cannot unscramble the scrambled egg.' However, the counsel for Haasan asserted that the comments by the actor were not made with 'malice,' and thus did not warrant an apology. 'It is not ego at all,' he argued and submitted that the screening of the movie would not be insisted upon in Karnataka till the issue gets resolved through dialogue with Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce. Also Read: Pro-Kannada organisation warns theatre owners on Kamal Haasan's Thug Life release in Bengaluru amid Kannada language row The court also scheduled the next hearing on June 10 for the plea by Haasan's production house, Raaj Kamal Films International, seeking adequate security for the movie's release in the state amid widespread protests and a boycott call by the KFCC following the actor's remark. The KFCC has also demanded that Haasan apologise.
