Bengaluru: The highly anticipated film Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan and directed by Mani Ratnam, has hit a roadblock in Karnataka. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has officially banned the film’s release in the state, citing the actor’s controversial remarks about the Kannada language.
During a promotional event, Kamal Haasan sparked outrage by stating that “Kannada was born out of Tamil.” The comment, made in the presence of Kannada actor Shivarajkumar, stirred backlash from pro-Kannada groups and political leaders. The actor’s opening line—“Uyire, Urave, Tamizhe” (“My life, my soul, my Tamil”)—only intensified the criticism.
KFCC representative Sa Ra Govindu announced the decision at a press conference, stressing that the ban will remain in place until Kamal Haasan issues a public apology. The move comes after demands from several Kannada organizations, including the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also condemned the actor, stating, “Kannada has a glorious history. It’s unfortunate that Kamal Haasan is ignorant of it.”
Thug Life marks the iconic reunion of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam after 38 years and is slated for a June 5 release. The film features a powerhouse cast including Silambarasan, Trisha, Joju George, Ashok Selvan, and Aishwarya Lekshmi, with music by A.R. Rahman.
With Karnataka—especially Bengaluru—being a major market for Tamil films, the ban is expected to significantly impact the movie’s box office performance unless the issue is resolved promptly.
