As Thug Life gears up for a grand global release in multiple languages on June 5, 2025, Kamal Haasan’s recent remarks about the Kannada language have sparked widespread outrage.
Kannadigas, deeply proud of their linguistic heritage, strongly condemned his statement. The backlash intensified to the point where the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) announced it would not allow the film’s release in the state unless Kamal issued a public apology.
This came a day after Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi wrote to the KFCC, urging a ban on Kamal’s films. Following that, the chamber held a meeting with all stakeholders, including the film’s local distributor.
Responding to the controversy, Kamal Haasan said, “This is a democracy. I believe in law and justice. My love for Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala is real. Only those with an agenda will doubt it. I’ve faced threats before. If I’m wrong, I’ll apologise – if I’m not, I won’t.”
How the KFCC and the people of Karnataka will respond to his latest comments remains to be seen, especially with the film’s release just around the corner.