Latest news with #Narasimhalu
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
My remarks misunderstood; intention was to say Tamil, Kannada belong to same family: Kamal Haasan
CHENNAI: MNM founder said his remarks on Kannada during 'Thug Life' movie promotion a few days ago were 'misunderstood' and that his intention was only to say that Tamil and Kannada belonged to the same family. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'It pains me that my statement has been misunderstood and taken out of context. My words were intended only to convey that we are all one and from the same family, and not to diminish Kannada in any way. There is no dispute or debate on the rich legacy of the Kannada language," he said in a letter addressed to Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) president Narasimhalu. Kamal said Kannada, like Tamil, has a proud literary and cultural tradition that he had admired for a long time. 'My love for Kannada is genuine, and I have great respect for the love that Kannadigas have for their mother tongue,' he said. Kamal's remark that Kannada originated from Tamil during the audio launch of his upcoming movie 'Thug Life' last month had snowballed into a controversy with several political leaders from Karnataka demanding an apology. Kamal, however, refused to apologise stating that 'Love never apologises.' Posters had sprung up across Chennai with these words on Tuesday. Even in the letter to KFCC Kamal chose not to apologise inviting sharp comments from Karnataka high court. Kamal said he always stood for the equal dignity of all Indian languages and opposed to the dominance of any one language over another, as such imbalance undermines the linguistic fabric of 'Union of India.' Kamal expressed regret for the 'embarrassment' that Kannada superstar Shivraj Kumar had to go through for sharing the stage with Kamal during the audio launch. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He said cinema must remain a bridge between people, never a wall that divides them. 'I sincerely hope my words are received in the spirit they were intended, and that my enduring affection for Karnataka, its people, and their language is recognised in its true light,' he said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kamal Haasan clarifies his controversial statement through a letter to KFCC president amid the 'Thug Life' release threat: 'It pains me that my statement…"
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan has issued a clarifying letter to Narasimhalu, the President of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, in light of the growing controversy around his comments at the Thug Life audio launch. His statement claiming that the Kannada language originated from Tamil sparked backlash from various Kannada groups and political circles, who called it historically inaccurate and culturally insensitive. The comment led to protests and demands for a public apology, with some theatres and distributors in Karnataka deciding to stall the release of 'Thug Life.' Kamal Haasan expresses pain over misinterpretation In his letter, Kamal Haasan expressed disappointment that his remarks were misinterpreted. 'It pains me that my statement has been misunderstood, despite being spoken with genuine intent,' the Thug Life actor wrote. He also underscored that there is no contention over the proud legacy of Kannada. 'Like Tamil, Kannada too has a rich literary and cultural tradition,' he affirmed, noting that he holds both languages and cultures in high esteem. The letter appeared to be an attempt to address hurt sentiments and defuse the brewing tensions between the Kannada film fraternity and his production team. Karnataka High Court questions Kamal Haasan's language claim The controversy took a legal turn when Kamal Haasan's production house, Raaj Kamal Films International, approached the Karnataka High Court seeking relief against the unofficial ban. In a pointed remark during the hearing, the High Court questioned Kamal's authority on linguistic history, asking, 'Are you a historical or language specialist? On what basis did you say Kannada came from Tamil?' The court further advised that a sincere apology would help resolve the matter smoothly. All eyes are on reconciliation as 'Thug Life' nears release With the film scheduled for release on June 5, 2025, Kamal Haasan's latest letter may pave the way for reconciliation. However, whether it will be accepted by protestors and pave the way for Thug Life's release in Karnataka remains to be seen. 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 .
India Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Let him go to court, no theatre will screen Thug Life: Karnataka film body chief
The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has doubled down on its stance, saying no theatre in the state will screen the film Thug Life following actor Kamal Haasan approaching the Karnataka High Court seeking protection for the film's release.'Let him go to court. None of our theatres will screen it,' KFCC president M Narasimhalu told PTI Videos on Monday, responding to news that Haasan's production house, Raaj Kamal International, had sought legal controversy stems from Haasan's recent remark suggesting Kannada evolved from Tamil, a statement that triggered protests from pro-Kannada groups and demands for a public apology. Though Haasan later clarified that his words came 'out of love' and that 'love will never apologise,' the backlash has continued. Narasimhalu said the KFCC learned of the court petition through media reports. 'This is not just a film industry issue anymore, it's become a state and language issue. We've received a letter from the government. Everyone, pro-Kannada organisations, politicians, and the people, is demanding an apology,' he of the film are expected to speak to Haasan, who is currently in Dubai promoting the film, and inform KFCC of their next steps. 'We'll take a decision after that and also consult our legal team,' Narasimhalu added, noting that the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce had also attempted to reach out to the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar appealed for calm, avoiding direct comment on Haasan's statement. 'Let me look at the details. We're all neighbours, not enemies. I urge everyone to remain calm and patient,' he InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu#Karnataka
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Sonu Nigam will not be invited to events, should apologise: Kannada film chamber
The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) on Monday (May 05, 2025) decided to be 'non-cooperative' with Sonu Nigam after the singer courted controversy in the State. The popular playback singer received backlash after he turned down the demand of a fan to sing a Kannada song during his recent concert at East Point College in Virgonagar, Bengaluru. During his performance, Sonu responded to the demand saying he didn't like the tone of the concerned person from the crowd and compared the incident to the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The singer's reference to a terror attack irked Kannadigas, resulting in a case being booked on him by a pro-Kannada outfit for 'inciting language hatred.' The police has sent a notice to the singer to appear before them for questioning. M Narasimhalu, chairman, KFCC, told reporters at a press conference that the chamber has decided to cut off all kinds of communication with the singer unless he renders a 'public apology.' 'Mr Sonu Nigam will not be invited for any Kannada film-related events. We have written to the police ommissioner's office to not permit any Sonu Nigam concert in Bengaluru,' said Narasimhalu, adding that there has been no step taken to ban the singer from the Kannada film industry yet. 'The chamber will have a meeting with audio labels, producers, music directors, singers and directors to discuss the issue. Some upcoming movies might have his songs. It's not right on our part to hold the releases of those movies unless the producere are willing to re-record the tracks with new singers,' Narasimhalu said. Producer Uday K Mehta, who was at the press conference, slammed Sonu Nigam's statement during his concert. 'He has received immense love from the people of Karnataka. He has hurt them all with his words. Nobody with a stable mind will compare a request for a song to a terror attack. As artistes and fans of cinema, we deserve respect. His recent video doesn't seem like an apology. It feels like a justification of his act,' Mehta told The Hindu. Responding to the outrage, Sonu Nigam said in a video that he felt 'threatened by 4-5 thugs in the crowd. 'My show hadn't even started and these guys looked at me in a rude manner and demanded me to sing Kannada songs. No artiste should allow their audience to threaten him or her,' he said, adding that he always found people of Karnataka 'sweet and humble'. Sonu Nigam also spoke about his Pahalgam terror attack comment that left the fans furious. 'We need to remind such people that at Pahalgam, people weren't asked about their language before being killed.'
