Indian actor Kamal Haasan has moved the Karnataka High Court seeking protection for the release of his upcoming film Thug Life on 5 June, amid growing protests over his controversial remark linking the Kannada language to Tamil origins.
The petition, filed by the CEO of Haasan’s production house Raaj Kamal Films International, urges the court to direct the state government, police authorities, and industry bodies to refrain from obstructing the film’s screening across Karnataka.
Haasan’s comment, suggesting that Kannada evolved from Tamil, sparked political and cultural backlash in Karnataka, leading to calls for a ban on the film’s release.
In the plea, the actor has also requested that the state’s Director General of Police and Bengaluru’s Commissioner of Police be instructed to provide adequate security to cinemas intending to screen Thug Life.
The court has not yet issued a ruling on the matter. Haasan’s legal move follows mounting tension over language identity in the southern state, with several pro-Kannada groups and political leaders criticising his remarks as provocative.
Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Kamal Haasan in the lead role, is a much-anticipated pan-India film.
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