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Thug Life release halted in Karnataka
Kamal Haasan has found himself in a legal dispute due to his recent remarks about the Kannada language, leading to increasing backlash and a delay in the release of his forthcoming film Thug Life in Karnataka. What began at the film’s audio launch has escalated to the Karnataka High Court, where the bench is taking the actor’s comments very seriously.
The debate arises from Haasan’s comment made at the event, where he stated, “Kannada came from Tamil, we are all like sisters,” seemingly as a compliment to his co-star Shiva Rajkumar, a well-known personality in Kannada cinema. Nevertheless, this remark was not well-received by pro-Kannada organizations, who considered it to be historically incorrect and culturally insensitive.
In a strong position, the Karnataka High Court challenged the Tamil superstar’s intentions for making such a statement and denounced his comments. The bench pointed out that although Haasan is a renowned actor, he lacks the qualifications of a historian or linguist, and thus should avoid making contentious assertions regarding the origins of language.
Additionally, the court took issue with Haasan for failing to include an apology in his later public letter, which otherwise conveyed admiration and respect for the Kannada language and its speakers. The bench remarked that despite his prominence, Kamal Haasan should not make such statements carelessly.
In light of the ongoing dispute, it has now come to light that Thug Life will not be released in Karnataka until further notice. Kamal Haasan’s legal representatives have informed the court that the film’s release is currently on hold and have clarified that the actor plans to proceed with the film’s release in Karnataka only after engaging in discussions with the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce.
The next court hearing regarding this matter is set for June 10. Until that date, the future of Thug Life in Karnataka remains unclear. As fans of Haasan and Shiva Rajkumar look forward to a resolution, the current legal proceedings are expected to impact the film’s release strategy in the area.
