Bengaluru, June 2: Actor Kamal Haasan has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking help to release and screen his upcoming film Thug Life in the state. This comes after several pro-Kannada groups called for a ban on the film due to his recent statement about the Kannada language’s origin.
At an event in Chennai on May 24, Kamal Haasan said that “Kannada is born out of Tamil.” The comment upset many in Karnataka, leading to protests and demands to block the film’s release.
The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), reacting to pressure from protestors, decided to stop the film’s release in the state. The KFCC gave Kamal Haasan a 24-hour deadline to apologise publicly. But Kamal refused, saying he would only apologise if he believed he had done something wrong.
Controversy Over Language Remark: Kamal Haasan Defends ‘Thug Life’
“I’ve been threatened before. If I’m wrong, I’ll apologise. If I’m not, I won’t. This is my lifestyle—please don’t tamper with it,” the veteran actor Kamal Hasan said.
Now, through his production house Raaj Kamal Films International, Kamal has filed a petition in the High Court. He has asked the court to stop any action that could block the movie’s release. The petition also urges the police to provide enough security at theatres to prevent any violence or disruption during the screening.
Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, marks the return of the iconic actor-director duo after 38 years. The film is set for a worldwide release on June 5.
As the release date nears, tensions remain high, and the legal outcome will decide if the movie hits screens in Karnataka.