June 5, 2025: Mani Ratnam’s much-anticipated film Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan TR, and Trisha Krishnan, has released across India — except in Karnataka, where it faces a ban following controversial remarks by Kamal Haasan about the Kannada language.
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The ban comes after Kamal’s statement that “Kannada was born out of Tamil” sparked outrage in Karnataka. Despite calls from the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce to apologise, Kamal refused, leading to the film’s non-release in the state.
Financial Impact
Producer and distributor G Dhananjayan estimates that missing out on the Karnataka market could lead to a ₹35-40 crore gross revenue loss and a ₹12-15 crore hit to producers’ share. This estimate is based on Karnataka’s significant contribution to box office collections of major films like Pushpa 2, Baahubali 2, RRR, and Kalki 2898 AD, which collectively earned over ₹1000 crore worldwide, with Karnataka alone accounting for ₹74-104 crore.
Dhananjayan pointed out that Karnataka accounts for roughly 7% of total box office revenue for Telugu and Tamil films, highlighting the market’s importance.
Language Controversy
The controversy started on May 27, when Kamal, promoting Thug Life in Karnataka, made the remark that led to backlash. The Karnataka High Court suggested a simple apology could resolve the matter but criticised Kamal for not being a linguist or historian.
The Tamil Active Film Producers Council warned that Karnataka’s ban on Thug Life could harm the relations between Tamil and Kannada film industries.
Mixed Reviews
Despite the controversy and limited release, Thug Life has received mixed reviews from audiences and critics alike.