The controversy surrounding Thug Life, Kamal Haasan’s much-anticipated action drama, has taken a sharp turn with the film now officially not releasing in Karnataka.
The standoff began after Kamal Haasan’s comment at a public event, where he referred to Kannada as having evolved from Tamil. The statement sparked outrage among Kannada groups and the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), who demanded a public apology.
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Haasan, who is both the lead actor and producer of Thug Life, stood by his statement, clarifying that it was not meant to offend.
He refused to issue an apology, stating: “If I have spoken wrongly, I will apologize. But why should I apologize for a misunderstanding?” Despite this clarification and a letter to the KFCC explaining his intent, the backlash did not subside.
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As a result, the KFCC announced that the film would not be screened in the state unless Kamal Haasan and the Chamber resolved the issue jointly.
In response, Kamal Haasan’s team approached the Karnataka High Court seeking protection to ensure the film’s release. However, the court advised that the issue should be settled amicably and noted that an apology might have avoided this conflict altogether.
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In a bold move, Kamal Haasan has now opted to withhold the release of Thug Life in Karnataka, accepting the potential crores in losses. The loss is going to be his. He feels he has spoken nothing wrong and so he is standing by his principles.
Interestingly, the boycott may hurt Karnataka’s distribution and exhibition sector more than Kamal Haasan. Theatres in the state have seen a slump in footfall due to a lack of major releases in recent months.
The Kannada exhibitors are bleeding with no big hits from Kannada industry in a long time. Missing out on a big and hyped film like Thug Life could further affect revenues for local exhibitors.
If the film turns out to be good, it will be a big loss for Kannada industry.
