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India Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Won't allow Thug Life's release: Protests against Kamal Haasan intensify
After actor Kamal Haasan refused to apologise for his 'Kannada is born out of Tamil' statement, several pro-Kannada groups intensified their protest against the actor in Karnataka. Several videos and photos from the protest surfaced online, in which they were seen burning Haasan's effigies demanding a ban on his latest film 'Thug Life'.Members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike burnt Haasan's effigy and posters in different parts of the state to add to the anger against the Tamil superstar for his contentious statement. The situation escalated further when Haasan, at an event, refused to issue an apology for his statement, and said, "Love will never apologise. I will apologise only if I am wrong. If I am not, I will not (sic)."SDPI burned Kamal Hasan Effigy, for portraying the truth as the producer in the biography movie Amaran that Major Mukund was killed by an Islamic guys just hate us - PERIOD. Indu Makkal Katchi (off) (@Indumakalktchi) November 7, 2024advertisementOn Saturday, pro-Kannada organisations led by LR Shivarame Gowda, Lok Sabha MP, and activists visited several cinema halls across the city, urging them not to screen 'Thug Life'. "We won't allow the release of this movie," they declared, appealing to theatre owners and the public to join their protest. The groups have demanded a complete ban on the film's release in Karnataka after the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), on Friday, announced a complete ban on the film in the state. Kannada actor Shiva Rajkumar sided with Haasan in the matter, which created trouble for him as protestors also lined up outside his house. His statement in which he appreciated Haasan's body of work, and his 'contribution to Kannada cinema' angered many. Visuals of people throwing stones at his house went viral on social media by Mani Ratnam, the film is scheduled to hit the screens on June InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Kamal Haasan
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Advance bookings for Kamal Haasan's ‘Thug Life' to begin amid Kannada controversy
The film boasts a star-studded ensemble cast including Silambarasan, Trisha, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nasser, Abhirami, and Aishwarya Lekshmi, with a musical score by A. R. Rahman. Jointly produced by Raaj Kamal Films International and Madras Talkies, Thug Life will also release in IMAX theatres. Set against the backdrop of India's underworld, the story follows Rangaraya Sakthivel Naickar, a mafia kingpin. After rescuing a young boy named Amaran (played by Simbu) from a police shootout, Sakthivel and his brother raise him as their own. However, when an assassination attempt is made on Sakthivel years later, suspicion falls on the now-grown Amaran, prompting Sakthivel to seek revenge. With the film's release just days away, all eyes are on Thug Life and whether it will clear hurdles in Karnataka amid ongoing language-related controversies. Fans are eagerly waiting to witness this powerful tale unfold on the big screen.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
‘Thug Life' makes noise in Vizag
Tollywood is buzzing with excitement as Thug Life, one of the most eagerly anticipated Indian films of 2024, gears up for its grand theatrical release on June 5. Directed by legendary filmmaker Mani Ratnam and headlined by the iconic Kamal Haasan, the film is a gritty gangster drama with a stellar cast featuring Trisha and Simbu in key roles. Adding to the excitement, the film will be released in Telugu by Shreshth Movies, owned by N Sudhakar Reddy, known for past hits like Vikram and Amaran. A grand pre-release event in Vizag saw the film's team come together and share their thoughts with an enthusiastic crowd. Kamal Haasan, overwhelmed by the Vizag audience's love, reflected on his long-standing bond with Telugu cinema. 'Vizag has always welcomed me warmly—from Maro Charitra to Sagara Sangamam. This is like my second home,' he said. He described Thug Life as his tribute to fans and praised the performances of co-stars Simbu, Trisha, Nassar, and Abhirami. 'This is a great film. Simbu's role is like never before. Trisha has played a very memorable character. We believe we've made something special,' he shared. Simbu expressed gratitude to Telugu fans, calling the film 'very good' and urging everyone to watch it on June 5. He also revealed he sang a song in the upcoming film Ozzy, fulfilling his dream of singing for Pawan Kalyan. Trisha, who plays Indrani, said, 'It's been 22 years since Varsham released, and I'm still getting so much love. This role is unlike anything I've done before.' Veteran actor Nassar praised Thug Life as a landmark film in Indian cinema and celebrated the historic collaboration between Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam after 37 years. Actress Abhirami called it a 'dream project,' and Sudhakar Reddy assured fans of a success meet in Vizag post-release.
India Today
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Muthina Haara: A patriotic tale of Kodava soldier, his family, pride and pain
In this week's Retro Review, we pick a 1990 Kannada classic. 'Muthina Haara', set in a time period between the second world war and the Indo-China war of 1962, touches upon sensitive topics like repercussions of war, mental trauma of a soldier's family, efficient cultural representation and Muthina Haara (1990)Cast: Dr Vishnuvardhan, Suhasini Maniratnam, KS Ashwath, Master Anand, Sadashiva Brahmavar, Prakash Raj, Ramkumar and Rajendra Singh BabuBox-office status: Hit (Became cult-classic over time)Where to watch: YouTubeWhy to watch: Understand repercussions of war, trauma endured by defense families, how to make films with good cultural representation. An old poster of 'Muthina Haara' (PC: Wikipedia) advertisement'Uri: The Surgical Strike', 'Amaran', 'Shershaah', 'Lakshya', 'LOC Kargil' - these are all examples of blockbuster or cult classic army films in Indian cinema that have left a mark in the hearts of most Indians through their depiction of a soldier's life, courage, and valour. But to the new generation, war drama films from the '90s are now history - something not often discussed, and for many, not interesting enough.'Muthina Haara' is a film that is so dear to Kannada households that it is a regular on TV every Independence Day and Republic Day. Featuring one of the most iconic pairs from the golden age of Kannada films - Vishnuvardhan and Suhasini Maniratnam - the Rajendra Singh Babu's cult classic holds significance in the history of cinema. Rajendra Singh Babu has several titles to his filmography - 'Bandhana' and 'Antha' - which were blockbusters upon release and remain iconic to this day. Perhaps we'll get to those titles later down the line, but 'Muthina Haara' is our first choice for one reason - scale and ambition. Having produced the film himself, Babu took a huge risk, which didn't really pay off completely at the time of release. The film, which was initially accepted only in tier-1 cities, gained full recognition over the years as audience sensibilities evolved. A picture of Rajendra Singh Babu with former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu at IFFI 2106 (PC: Wikipedia) advertisementThe film is certainly not flawless. It has its fair share of plot points that could be memes today - the hyper-dramatic acting at times, the occasional disregard for logic, the 'jugaad' shots here and there. These 'at moments' crop up regularly, especially if the film is judged based on today's sensibilities and trends. However, these demerits do not cast a shadow on the key themes 'Muthina Haara' stands film explores multiple avenues - romance amidst chaos, life through a soldier's lens, the rooted and regional culture of the Kodavas, and more. At the same time, from a filmmaking standpoint, its approach to screenplay - tracking the life story of the lead pair - did not only focus on drama but also integrated a range of other ingredients that made it feel both authentic and War - Drama through traumaThe film explores a soldier's life and his family's temperament as they witness four different wars, each of them playing a significant role in the story. While the names and timelines of these battles aren't mentioned clearly, one can understand the references given in the film to draw parallels and connect the dots. The story of the film 'Muthina Haara' spans between World War II and the Indo-China war of 1962 (PC: Youtube/SRS Media Vision) Starting off in Burma during the Second World War, Achchappa (Vishnuvardhan) is injured in action while fighting for the British Indian Army. The army nurse who tends to his wounds is Lieutenant Annapurna (Suhasini). The two bond over the commonality that they come from the same place - Kodagu in Karnataka. As the treatment goes on, their hearts grow closer, and as the distance between them increases, when Achchappa recovers and gets redeployed to the battlefield, they realise they've fallen for each to the story - Achcha and Anu are married, and Anu gives birth to a baby boy, Veeraraju (Master Anand). Immediately after his birth, Achcha is posted to Korea, hinting at the Indian military's contribution to mediating the end of the Korean War (1950–1953). From there, he receives a promotion as an officer in the Indian Army and is posted to serve in reaching Rajasthan, Achcha sends a letter to Anu asking her to join him with Veeraraju and live in his army quarters. Just as they are about to reach Rajasthan, a war breaks out with 'India's enemy' in 1952, and Achcha gets deployed. Anu and Veeraraju are picked up by an army convoy along with the families of other soldiers. While on their way to the convoy, they get ambushed and Veeraraju is martyred while Anu gets lost in the deserts of Rajasthan. A still from 'Muthina Haara' (PC: SRS Media Vision) advertisementAchcha who is on his way to base from the Warfield notices Anu and realises what has happened. While having to deal with the pain of losing their only son, the couple decide not to go back home or to inform their parents of Veeraraju's passing. Years pass with Achcha and Anu choosing to spend their lives in service. They are now posted in Kashmir, with Achcha having risen in rank to become a commander training young cadets, while Lt. Anu heads the medical division in the camp. Navigating their trauma - and facing new ones - the couple have held on to each other through thick and thin, before war is declared once again and Achcha returns to the what seems to refer to the India–China war of 1962, which took place between October and November, Achcha and his battalion, having entered enemy territory, are captured by the Chinese. Despite being tortured to divulge military secrets, Achcha manages to escape along with his entire battalion without leaking any information. However, he gets mortally wounded while trying to hold the enemy back as his comrades escape. Achcha somehow manages to hold on until he reaches Indian soil, to give a final salute to the emotional weightage aside, the action choreography of the war sequences may seem a tad caricatured - perhaps more so to those who have only watched modern war dramas or Hollywood classics like 'Saving Private Ryan' (1998). But when you take into consideration the film's budget (from the 90s) and the final output achieved, the technical shortcomings can be forgiven. The result, accomplished on a budget that's peanuts compared to 'Saving Private Ryan' or any of the Bollywood films produced in the '90s, makes 'Muthina Haara' stand apart from the rest.'Muthina Haara' does not use war as its primary focus. Instead, it uses wars to focus on their repercussions on a military family - especially the lead couple, whose romance bloomed amidst one of those wars. The film does not use war to show countries engaging in battle in a villainous shade, but instead shines a light on the bravery, valour, and patriotism of the Indian representation - The right lindThe film shines a light on a minority community from the Kodagu district of Karnataka, called the Kodavas. The Kodava people have a way of life that is unique and distinctive when compared to their neighbouring cultures and traditions. The Kodavas are stereotypically (no complaints) known for three things: military contribution, hockey, and the best coffee (subjective). A still from the film 'Muthina Haara' with the lead Vishnuvardhan and Suhasini in traditional Kodava attire (PC: Youtube/SRS Media Vision) Writer VM Joshi and director Rajendra Singh Babu put in the effort to understand the history, culture, and traditions of the Kodavas and have integrated them efficiently into 'Muthina Haara'. Although it might lean on the lines of glorification, it is still better than misrepresentation or complete culture swapping (yes, that is a 'Skyforce' reference).'Madikeri Sipayi' and 'Kodagina Veera' are songs from the film that have become a bridge between Kodava culture and its understanding among the people of Karnataka. While 'Madikeri Sipayi' is a romantic song establishing the love between Achchappa (Vishnuvardhan) and Anu (Suhasini), it is partly sung in Kodava Takk (language of the Kodava) and partly in Kannada. 'Kodagina Veera', on the other hand, speaks about the way of life of the Kodavas at the time. A still from the song 'Kodagra Veera' from the film (PC: Youtube/SRS Media Vision) The dialogues are also partly in Kodava Takk during key moments to ensure the essence of the culture is retained. From the costumes worn on set to the customs shown in the film - be it that of a wedding or the celebration of the harvest festival 'Puthari' - the makers ensured that the culture is portrayed as accurately as terms of cultural representation, the Kodava wedding scene and the song 'Kodagina Veera' stand out for their authenticity in costume, culture, and creativity. 'Muthina Haara', which translates to a pearl necklace, has cultural significance among the Kodavas as well. Pearls are a significant part of a Kodava bride's Kokkethathi pendant - a crescent-shaped piece adorned with rubies, pearls, and the image of Goddess film is a study material for several theses that delve into the topic of cultural representation. However, the film as an individual entity can also be broken down and studied for the way it integrates India's patriotism with its distinctive culture. This sincerity was a trait seen in films of the past. Unfortunately, with people's increasing inclination towards metro life today, even accurate cultural representation in films - especially when it concerns minority groups - has become of cinematic brillianceTo say that 'Muthina Haara' was ahead of its time would be an understatement. Were it to be remade today with modern technology and adapted to present-day sensibilities and trends, the screenplay and themes would be so relatable that a big, bright box-office future would be almost certain for the film. Considering the fact that the film was made in 1990, it showcased several cinematic elements and moments that are purely brilliant. While attention to detail in the cultural representation of the Kodava is one of those factors, from set design to cinematography and more, there's a lot more to the Singh Babu's visionary approach to storytelling - something that was prevalent in his previous films as well - was evident in this film. The film was shot for more than 30 days in Kashmir, with the crew facing several disturbances in the shooting schedule due to extremist interruptions in the area. They also shot in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, bringing more authenticity to all the border conflict scenes in the film. A practical stunt with Vishnuvardhan riding a Camel while shooting in Rajasthan (PC: SRS Media Vision) The director, in an interview, admitted that he pays great attention to set design, props, and costumes in order to make the set resemble the time and setting the film was based on. In this film, his efforts have certainly paid off. Reportedly, the furniture used in the opening sequence of the film - the hospital where the lead pair meet - was imported from Burma for authenticity. Including British flags, anti-Hitler posters, and several other elements only added to the overall cinematography in the film also shines in several moments. Not just the picturesque takes of the beautiful landscapes that the film was shot in, but there were also several moments where excellent use of lighting and aesthetics can be observed, which communicated the emotions the characters were going example would be when Achchappa is captured by the enemy in the latter half, where he is tortured by the enemy who are trying to extract military secrets and strategy. There is a shot where Achcha's moustache and hair are shaved off, and he is left alone in silence while water droplets - one drop at a time - keep falling on his acting, folly sound of the water dropping on his head, and the BGM slowly creeping up to establish the void and the agony - all add a lot of emotional weight. Finally, the set design and lighting made the scene cement in the hearts of the viewer. Forever. The blues in the background, with glasses of different shades, and the saturated orange/red colour on Achcha's face seamlessly communicate his anger, pride, and agony at the same time. Mind-blowing! Stills from the torture scene (PC: Youtube/SRS Media Vision) Director Rajendra Singh Babu chose not to take the conventional approach and give the film a 'happily ever after' climax. Nor did he choose to tone down the intensity of the film to make it more commercially appealing. He bravely stuck to his core idea and did not compromise his vision for commercial an established superstar like Vishnuvardhan and a sought-after actor like Suhasini did not have to put themselves in risky areas like the conflict zones in Kashmir - but they did! And so did the rest of the crew along with them. This level of dedication, although it might not have paid off as expected upon release, earned its due over the course of you want to watch a Kannada cinema classic, get introduced to a great director and some excellent actors, this film is for you. If you are a sucker for high-on-emotion tragedies that leave an after-effect that takes a moment to heal, this film is definitely for you! Also, 'for research purposes' or otherwise, if you want to know who the Kodavas are, this film is for you!
Hans India
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
‘Thug Life' will be a bigger hit than its lead actor: Kamal Haasan
One of the most anticipated films of the year, Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan and directed by cinematic legend Mani Ratnam, is all set to release on June 5. The high-voltage gangster drama, which also stars Trisha and Simbu in pivotal roles, is generating nationwide buzz with its powerful promotional material. The film's Telugu release will be handled by N Sudhakar Reddy of Shreshth Movies, known for hits like Vikram and Amaran. A press meet was held where the team shared their excitement and emotional connection with the film. Kamal Haasan expressed his deep affection for the project, calling Thug Life a film made from the heart. "Every film I do with sincerity turns into a great success. This one will be bigger than Nayak. I promise," he said. Calling himself a lifelong student of cinema, he praised Mani Ratnam's vision and lauded the stellar team behind the film. Director Mani Ratnam recalled how his collaboration with Kamal began with Nayak and described working with him again as an honour. 'He remains unchanged – a director's actor,' he said. Simbu thanked Telugu audiences for their early support, calling working with Kamal Haasan a dream. Trisha described the experience as a 'beautiful journey,' while Suhasini Mani Ratnam called the film a 'once-in-a-lifetime collaboration.' Sudhakar Reddy confidently predicted a mega blockbuster, calling it the biggest hit in Kamal Haasan's career. With such strong endorsements, Thug Life is poised to be a cinematic event to remember.
