June 03, 2025: Actor and politician Kamal Haasan has decided not to release his upcoming Tamil film Thug Life in Karnataka for now, his legal counsel informed the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday. The announcement comes in the wake of a controversy over Haasan’s remark that “Kannada is born out of Tamil,” which sparked backlash and calls for an apology.
The court had given Haasan time until 2:30 p.m. to clarify whether he would apologise. However, his counsel firmly stated that Haasan holds “utmost respect for Kannada” and sees no need for an apology. The bench responded sharply, calling it “ego speaking.”
Haasan’s lawyer also noted that police protection was unnecessary since the film would not be released in the state at this time. “We will hold discussions with the film chamber,” the lawyer added.
A letter addressed to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), read out in court, attempted to clarify the context of Haasan’s earlier statement. The actor said his comments, made during the audio launch of Thug Life, were misunderstood and not intended to belittle the Kannada language.
“It pains me that my statement, spoken out of genuine affection for Dr Rajkumar’s family, especially Shiva Rajkumar, has been misinterpreted,” the letter read. Haasan stressed that his intent was to express unity among South Indian languages, not to provoke division.
He emphasized the cultural richness of Kannada, calling it a language he deeply respects and admires. “Like Tamil, Kannada has a proud literary and cultural tradition,” he wrote, adding that the warmth he has received from Kannada-speaking audiences throughout his career has been meaningful.
Reiterating his pan-Indian linguistic respect, Haasan stated that his affection for Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and other Indian languages is genuine and deeply rooted.
Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Kamal Haasan, was slated for release on June 5. Its future release in Karnataka remains uncertain.
