Pro-Kannada groups warn theatre owners in Bengaluru against screening Kamal Haasan’s ‘Thug Life’

Protests erupt in Karnataka against Kamal Haasan’s film Thug Life, demanding a statewide ban due to alleged insults to the Kannada language. Tensions flared outside Victory Cinema in Bengaluru’s Kamakshipalya on Sunday as members of the pro-Kannada outfit Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) gathered to protest the release of Kamal Haasan’s upcoming film Thug Life. The organisation is demanding a statewide ban on the film, alleging that the veteran actor insulted the Kannada language.

Led by Praveen Shetty, the protesters warned theatre authorities against screening the film. The flashpoint follows a controversial statement Haasan allegedly made during a promotional event in Chennai, where he reportedly claimed that “Kannada is born out of Tamil.” The remark triggered a wave of backlash across Karnataka, with activists accusing Haasan of belittling the state’s linguistic heritage.

Protests erupted across the state in the days following the actor’s remarks, culminating in a formal response from the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC). The chamber has imposed a ban on the film’s release within the state, standing in solidarity with Kannada organisations demanding an apology from Haasan.

Despite mounting pressure, Kamal Haasan has stood his ground. Addressing reporters outside the DMK headquarters in Chennai, he refused to issue an apology, asserting his right to free speech. “This is a democracy. I believe in law and justice. My affection for Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala is genuine—no one with good intentions would doubt that. If I am wrong, I will apologise. If not, I won’t,” Haasan said.