June 2, 2025: Veteran actor Kamal Haasan has landed in hot water over a comment he made about the origins of the Kannada language, sparking widespread backlash and threats to ban his upcoming film Thug Life in Karnataka. The controversy has taken a political and cultural turn, with calls for an apology growing louder and Haasan refusing to back down.
🗣️ The Controversial Statement
The uproar began during a promotional event for Thug Life, where Kamal Haasan remarked that “Kannada was born out of Tamil”, while speaking about the cultural and linguistic connections of South India. The statement was met with sharp criticism across Karnataka, with politicians and language activists calling it historically inaccurate and offensive.
📣 Political and Industry Response
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was among the first to respond, saying Haasan “doesn’t know the rich history of Kannada.” BJP state president BY Vijayendra also demanded a public apology.
Amid the rising tensions, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce issued a stern warning: if Kamal Haasan does not issue an apology, Thug Life will not be allowed to release in Karnataka. “This is not about the film industry anymore, it’s about the state,” said Chamber President M Narasimhalu.
🎬 Ram Gopal Varma Joins the Debate
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma weighed in via a post on X (formerly Twitter), criticizing the threats against Haasan and the film:
“DEMOCRACY’s new name is INTOLERANCE… irrespective of factual correctness, threats to ban #ThugLife in Karnataka unless @ikamalhaasan apologises, amounts to a new kind of HOOLIGANISM.”
However, Varma later deleted the post.
🛑 Legal Move by Haasan
Refusing to retract his statement, Kamal Haasan issued a strong response:
“I’ve been threatened before. If I am wrong, I would apologise. If I’m not, I won’t. I believe in law and justice.”
On Monday, Haasan approached the Karnataka High Court, seeking legal assurance that Thug Life would not face disruption or an unofficial ban in the state. The case is pending.
🎥 About Thug Life
Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, features Kamal Haasan alongside Trisha Krishnan and Silambarasan TR. The film has generated buzz for its high-octane visuals and political undertones, but this controversy now overshadows its promotional campaign.
The clash between artistic expression and regional sensitivity has once again surfaced, with Kamal Haasan at the center. Whether Thug Life will see a smooth release in Karnataka remains uncertain, but the controversy underscores the tightrope Indian artists often walk when navigating cultural identity and public opinion.