Protests against Kamal Haasan intensify in parts of Karnataka

India Today

After actor Kamal Haasan refused to apologize for his 'Kannada is born out of Tamil' statement, several pro-Kannada groups intensified their protest against the actor in Karnataka.

Transcript

00:00The Thuglai Cinema 1 is released, and the government is being released.

00:08Vaan remarks statewide outrage and now a film ban.

00:12Tamil actor Kamal Haasan sparked controversy after saying Kannada is born out of Tamil

00:16during the audio launch of his film Thug Life on May 25, 2025.

00:20Things escalated when Haasan refused to apologize on May 30.

00:24He said, I will apologize only if I'm wrong, if I'm not, I won't.

00:28Soon after pro-Kannada groups hit the streets, in Bengaluru's Kamakshi Palya,

00:32protesters gathered outside the Victory Cinema and burned Haasan's effigies.

00:36The outrage spread across Karnataka.

00:38Videos showed effigies and posters being torched as protesters demanded a ban on Thug Life.

00:42In response, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce banned the film's release in the state,

00:46backing Kannada organizations.

00:48Meanwhile, Kannada actor Shiv Rajkumar, who had lauded the Thug Life actor from the audience,

01:00later clarified his stance, saying that,

01:02I've already told, Kannada is my first option, no doubt about it.

01:06This is not the first time, any time for Kannada, you can take the record and see what Shivana has done for Kannada.

01:13But that didn't go down well either. Protesters showed up at his house in Hurlstones.

01:17In 2024, Haasan faced protests over his film Amaran, accusing it of misrepresenting Muslims.

Category

Transcript

Recommended