‘Thug Life’ row: Pro-Kannada outfit chief says Kamal Haasan ‘should have apologised’

Pro-Kannada groups express dissatisfaction with Kamal Haasan's remarks on the Kannada language despite the SC clearing his film Thug Life for release.

Updated on: Jun 18, 2025, 16:20:42 IST

By Yamini C S

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Amid the ongoing controversy over Kamal Haasan’s upcoming film Thug Life, pro-Kannada groups have continued to voice dissatisfaction with the actor’s past remarks about the Kannada language, even as the Supreme Court cleared the film for release in Karnataka.

There were several protests against actor Kamal Haasan over his controversial remarks about the Kannada language, in Karnataka. (PTI Photo) (PTI)

Praveen Shetty, chief of a prominent pro-Kannada organisation, stated that they are not opposing the release of the movie itself, but are upset that Haasan did not apologise for his controversial comments.

READ | ‘None of its business’: Supreme Court pulls up Karnataka high court for Kamal Haasan apology remark

"We are not opposing the release of the movie 'Thug Life' of Kamal Haasan. It was a simple issue. After hurting the sentiments of Karnataka by saying that the Kannada language has been born out of the Tamil language, he should have apologised as per the suggestions given by the Karnataka HC. But he went to the Supreme Court. Now, the Supreme Court has given an order, so we will accept it. Curbing activism by deploying police is against the Constitution and the law of the land," he said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

READ | Why would any self-respecting Kannadiga watch 'Thug Life'? asks Pro Kannada outfit leader

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that the film must be allowed to screen in Karnataka and criticised the Karnataka High Court for suggesting Haasan should apologise. The top court said it was not the judiciary’s role to demand an apology from the actor.

Following the ruling, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar urged pro-Kannada organisations to maintain peace and abide by the Supreme Court’s decision. He appealed to activists to ensure the film’s screening proceeds without disruption.

READ | 'Thug Life' row: Will honour Supreme Court order, says Karnataka DyCM DK Shivakumar

Despite the court’s directive, the Karnataka Rakshna Vedike, a leading pro-Kannada outfit, has announced it will call for a public boycott of the film, citing Haasan’s failure to issue an apology.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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