The film, released on 5 June, faced a boycott in Karnataka following remarks by the leading actor about Kannada.
Published Jun 18, 2025 | 5:13 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 18, 2025 | 5:13 PM
Kamal Haasan at 'Thug Life' audio launch. (X)
Synopsis: Distributor Venkatesh Kamalakar said if any movie has to earn money, it should earn it within two weeks. It has been more than two weeks since the movie was released, and it has not done well even in Tamil Nadu.
A day after the Supreme Court stated that it was the responsibility of the state government to ensure the safe release of a Censor Board-certified movie, the Karnataka distributor of Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life said that he will not release the movie.
According to an Indian Express report, Venkatesh Kamalakar, the Karnataka distributor for Thug Life, said, “I will not release the movie, and I have many reasons. I bought the Karnataka distribution rights, and today, if any movie has to earn money, it happens only within two weeks. It has been more than two weeks since the movie was released, and it has not done well even in Tamil Nadu.”
The film, released on 5 June, faced a boycott in Karnataka following remarks by the leading actor about Kannada. Pro-Kannada groups demanded a boycott unless he apologized. However, Kamal Haasan defended his comments, stating he would only apologize if proven wrong.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court said, “We cannot accept a situation where goons and rioters take the law into their own hands and occupy our streets.
“If some people are issuing threats to burn theatres if the film is released, it is the duty of the state government to ensure the film’s safe release. It is not acceptable to stop a legally certified film due to such threats. The decision to watch or ignore a film lies with the public, not with those who issue threats.”
Following the Supreme Court order, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, “We should all respect the court’s decision in the Kamal Haasan case. I appeal to pro-Kannada organisations not to cross the line and to maintain peace. No one should take the law into their own hands. Our state has always been known for peace.”
Kamal Haasan’s statement that Kannada was born out of Tamil, during the audio launch of Thug Life, sparked a huge debate in Karnataka.
He started his speech saying, “Uyire Urave Tamizhe (My life and my family are Tamil).” Later, referring to Kannada actor Shiva Rajkumar, who was on the stage, Haasan said, “You are my family, residing in Karnataka, and hence, you came all the way here. When I started the speech, I said that my life and my family are Tamil. Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil, and hence you are part of it.”
Following his statements, pro-Kannada organisations, including Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, launched statewide protests slamming the actor, and some of them tore posters of the movie Thug Life. They also asked Haasan to apologise.
Earlier, after facing massive backlash, Kamal Haasan said on 28 May that in-depth discussions must be left to historians, archaeologists and experts.
