Thug Life Trouble: Kamal Haasan moves Karnataka High Court amid Kannada language controversy
Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan in the lead role, is slated to release on June 5, 2025. As the film is just days away from hitting the big screens, it faces a ban in Karnataka; however, the actor has moved to the High Court against it.
As per reports, the veteran actor's production company, Raaj Kamal Films International (RKFI), has filed a petition against the court to direct the Karnataka state government, the police department, and film trade bodies not to prevent the movie's release. It also requests that the Director General of Police and the City Police Commissioner provide necessary security for the screenings.
The petition filed by Kamal Haasan comes after the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) had decided to ban the Thug Life release over outbursts from pro-Kannada groups.
The film body had announced that the veteran actor would be given an ultimatum to apologize for his remark by May 30, 2025. However, Haasan has dismissed this and highlighted that he would only apologize for something if he had done something wrong. Although he does not believe that this is the case, this time.
The protests and threats of a ban against the actor and his films arose after he commented on the Kannada language. During the Thug Life audio launch, the actor emphasized that 'Kannada was born out of Tamil,' which did not sit well with many people.
Talking about the film, Thug Life is an action thriller that tells the story of Rangaraya Sakthivel Naicker, a Yakuza-like gangster. Presumed dead, the gangster makes a return from his grave and suspects his foster son, Amaran, to be the conspirator who wants him dead. What follows in the film is a battle of death between father and son, with one emerging on top.
Along with Haasan, Silambarasan TR plays the co-lead alongside an ensemble cast of actors, including Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Rohit Saraf, and many more in key roles.
Interestingly, the film, directed by Mani Ratnam, marks the reunion of the director and the veteran actor after nearly 40 years.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
Yuvika Chaudhary REACTS to Prince Narula's link up rumours with Nora Fatehi during Bigg Boss 9: 'When you're young, working, and single...'
Yuvika Chaudhary addressed rumors linking Prince Narula to Nora Fatehi during Bigg Boss 9, emphasizing the difference between on-screen perceptions and real-life understanding. She values Prince's emotional honesty and acknowledges his past experiences, believing it fosters a stronger, more relaxed relationship. Yuvika appreciates that Prince has lived fully, ensuring no future regrets, and cherishes their friendship-turned-marriage built on open communication. Yuvika Chaudhary opened up about the swirling rumours linking her husband, Prince Narula, to actress Nora Fatehi during their Bigg Boss 9 days. In a candid conversation, she reflected on how perceptions can often be misleading and shares her honest take on love, trust, and understanding beyond the camera's lens. When asked about handling the rumours before marrying the Roadies actor, Yuvika told Bollywood Bubble that people often only see what someone chooses to show on screen. However, meeting the person in real life reveals a much deeper and better side. She acknowledged that nobody is perfect, and true understanding comes from personal experiences, which can never be fully captured on screen. She compared it to friendship—only by spending time with someone do you truly get to know them. She mentioned that in today's world, people often judge others without really knowing them. However, she chose not to judge Prince and instead saw him as a hardworking person who is open with his emotions—whether it's anger or love, he expresses it fully. While this can lead to challenges, she accepted it as part of his true personality and felt she understood the kind of person he really is. Yuvika further shared that initially, she felt the need to appear a certain way on screen, dealing with rumors and link-ups. But over time, she realized that when you're young, working, and single, it's your own life to live. It's only when you're with someone that you truly see their loyalty and real character. She wanted a partner who had experienced life fully, so there would be no regrets later. She believes that when people feel restricted, they crave freedom even more. So, she wants her partner to have the freedom to explore and grow, feeling relaxed in personal life. She knows he has traveled a lot and lived fully, and she's aware of his journey. She also joked that they started out as friends, sharing open conversations where she even teased him about his girlfriends. That connection grew naturally, and neither of them expected it would lead to marriage. 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 .
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
Bollywood vs South cinema: Ram Gopal Varma says Amitabh Bachchan was why Rajinikanth and Chiranjeevi became stars
Ram Gopal Varma has brought a candid perspective to the conversation around the early growth of South Indian cinema , claiming that much of its success during the 1970s and 1980s stemmed from remakes of Amitabh Bachchan's iconic Hindi films. In a detailed interview with IndiaTV Showbiz , the filmmaker stated that all four major Southern industries—Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam—were deeply influenced by the Bollywood superstar's work. He specifically named actors like Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, NT Rama Rao, and Rajkumar as beneficiaries of this trend, noting that many of their career-defining roles were recreations of Bachchan's celebrated performances. According to him, these remakes contributed directly to their transformation into cultural icons and, eventually, near-mythical figures among fans. Bachchan's Absence and the Southern Boom Varma highlighted that during Amitabh Bachchan's five-year hiatus in the 1990s, the landscape of Indian cinema saw a shift. While Bollywood entered a period where music labels started financing films primarily to promote their soundtracks—citing Maine Pyar Kiya as a pivotal example—the South Indian industries stayed true to the mass-entertainment format, continuing to produce 'masala' films modeled on Bachchan's earlier style. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เทรดทองCFDsกับโบรกเกอร์ที่เชื่อถือได้| เปิดบัญชีวันนี้ IC Markets สมัคร Undo 'The South never stopped making the so-called masala films,' Varma remarked, suggesting that this consistent approach was central to cementing the stardom of leading South actors. The remakes weren't simply copies, he implied, but vehicles that allowed regional stars to become household names and, eventually, 'demigods.' Bollywood's Urban Edge vs. Southern Roots The director also pointed out a key difference in how filmmakers from both regions evolved. He said that Bollywood directors, particularly in the '90s, had a more global cinematic awareness, partly due to their fluency in English and urban backgrounds. In contrast, many Southern filmmakers, according to him, were less exposed to international cinema and operated with a focus on grassroots storytelling. 'They're very close to the ground root,' he said, implying that their content remained more accessible and audience-driven. The Pushpa Incident and Preconceived Notions Ram Gopal Varma also recounted a striking anecdote from the time leading up to the release of Pushpa: The Rise, directed by Sukumar and starring Allu Arjun. He said that a producer, whom he did not identify, watched the film a few days before its release and strongly doubted its reception. According to Varma, the producer predicted that audiences would reject the film outright—not because of the actor's performance, but due to the unconventional nature of the character, who chewed paan instead of fitting the usual six-pack-hero mold. 'He was not referring to the actor,' Varma clarified. 'They are so used to good-looking six-pack heroes… that they can't comprehend a hero chewing paan.' He noted that such criticism often stems from industry professionals projecting their own assumptions onto audiences, rather than engaging with the actual substance of the film. A Shared Culture of Adaptation Varma's remarks underscore a rarely acknowledged truth: while Bollywood is often criticized today for its over-reliance on remakes, the Southern industries once followed a similar trajectory. In those earlier decades, original scripts were a rarity across languages. As he put it, when a fresh concept—regardless of the language—achieved success, others quickly adopted and adapted it for their own audiences. The culture of adaptation, Varma suggests, was not a sign of creative bankruptcy but a strategic choice that shaped some of India's biggest film legends. And while the industries have evolved, the legacy of that era continues to influence storytelling today.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Madras HC seeks explanation from CBFC for denying censor certificate to Vetrimaaran's 'Manushi': 'Filmmakers are already suffering from a lot of difficulties'
The Madras High Court has raised strong concerns over the Central Board of Film Certification 's (CBFC) refusal to grant clearance to the Tamil film 'Manushi'. It has questioned the board's failure to clearly identify which parts of the film were deemed objectionable. Madras HC sought explanation The issue reached the court after acclaimed filmmaker Vetrimaaran filed a petition on Tuesday (June 3) . According to The Hindu, he challenged the CBFC's decision to withhold certification for 'Manushi', a film he produced and which was directed by filmmaker N. Gopi Nainar. Vetrimaaran argued that the board had not provided any clarity on which specific scenes, dialogues, visuals, or musical elements were problematic. Justice N. Anand Venkatesh, who presided over the matter, expressed concern about the opaque process followed by the CBFC. 'Making a movie is a part of the right to speech and expression. As such, the filmmakers are already suffering from a lot of difficulties. You cannot deny certification for an entire movie without specifying the objectionable portions and expect a filmmaker to shoot the entire movie afresh,' the judge reportedly said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo The court observed that unless the CBFC clearly listed the scenes it found offensive, the filmmaker would be left in the dark and risk incurring heavy financial losses due to re-shoots or delays. Court's order to CBFC The CBFC has now been asked to either submit a detailed list of the objectionable parts of 'Manushi' or arrange a screening with Vetrimaaran and indicate the scenes that require changes. The deadline for this has been set for June 16. During the hearing, it was conveyed to the court that both the examining and revising committees of the CBFC had unanimously recommended withholding certification. Their objections reportedly included allegations that the film challenged the integrity of the state, contained contemptuous content, criticised government policies, perpetuated stereotypes contributing to a north-south divide, and depicted scenes allegedly against national interests. Vetrimaaran talks about Nitish Veera in an emotional video In response to these assertions, the judge asked the CBFC to file an explanation by June 11. About Manushi 'Manushi', starring Andrea Jeremiah in the lead, also features Nasser, Tamizh, Hakkim Shah, and Balaji Sakthivel in pivotal roles. The film's music has been composed by maestro Ilaiyaraaja . 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 .
