K’taka HC adjourns Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life release to June 10
The Karnataka High Court has adjourned the release of Kamal Haasan’s upcoming film, ‘Thug Life’, to June 10. The court was hearing a petition filed by the film’s makers, who sought permission to release the movie in the state after the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) restricted its release due to Kamal’s recent remark about Kannada language.
For those who may not be aware, Kamal Haasan recently sparked controversy when he said that Kannada was born out of Tamil. The remark did not go down well with Kannada language enthusiasts and the KFCC, which is the apex body of film producers, distributors, and exhibitors in Karnataka, decided to restrict the release of ‘Thug Life’ in the state.
The film’s makers, however, were not willing to compromise and decided to approach the Karnataka High Court to seek relief. They argued that the KFCC’s decision was unreasonable and that the film should be allowed to release in the state as it was cleared by the censor board.
The court, while hearing the petition, noted that Kamal Haasan had written a letter to the KFCC apologizing for his remark. However, the court was not satisfied with the letter and felt that it did not contain the word “apology”. The court observed that an apology should be unconditional and unqualified, and that Kamal’s letter was not sufficient to resolve the issue.
The court’s observation is not without merit. Kamal Haasan’s remark about Kannada language being born out of Tamil was seen as an insult by many Kannada speakers and the KFCC’s decision to restrict the release of his film was seen as a protest against his remark. While Kamal Haasan may have written a letter to the KFCC apologizing for his remark, many feel that it was not enough to undo the damage.
The adjournment of the release of ‘Thug Life’ to June 10 is a setback for the film’s makers, who were expecting a good opening in Karnataka. The state has a significant market for Tamil films, and the controversy surrounding Kamal Haasan’s remark may have impacted the film’s prospects.
It is worth noting that ‘Thug Life’ is a Tamil film and not a Kannada film. However, the controversy surrounding the film’s release in Karnataka highlights the sensitivity of language and cultural issues in India. The country is home to many languages and cultures, and any controversy or remark that is seen as insulting to a particular language or culture can have significant repercussions.
In conclusion, the Karnataka High Court’s adjournment of the release of ‘Thug Life’ to June 10 is a significant development in the controversy surrounding Kamal Haasan’s remark about Kannada language. The court’s observation that Kamal’s letter did not contain the word “apology” is a fair one, and the film’s makers may need to reconsider their strategy to resolve the issue. While the controversy may have impacted the film’s prospects in Karnataka, it is ultimately up to the film’s makers to decide whether to release the film in the state.
