Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life gets early morning release in TN despite Karnataka language row controversy
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday approved a request from Raaj Kamal Films International, allowing special early morning screenings of ‘Thug Life’, the much-anticipated film directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Kamal Haasan.
As per the official order, the film will be permitted to run five shows on its release day, Thursday, 5 June. The first screening can begin at 9 am, with the final show allowed to continue until 2 am the following day.
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Special shows for a high-profile release
Granting permission for additional shows outside standard hours is a practice usually extended to big-budget films or major releases featuring top stars and filmmakers. Given the anticipation surrounding ‘Thug Life’, the decision follows precedent in the state’s approach to significant cinematic events.
Controversy delays Karnataka release
The approval comes amidst a growing controversy around Kamal Haasan’s recent remarks at the film’s audio launch, where he stated that “Kannada is born out of Tamil.”
The comment drew backlash in Karnataka, prompting the Karnataka High Court to advise an apology.
While Kamal Haasan declined to issue a direct apology, he addressed the matter in a letter to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. In the letter, he said the reaction stemmed from a misunderstanding and reiterated his opposition to linguistic dominance.
Due to the controversy and the actor’s refusal to apologise outright, the release of Thug Life in Karnataka has been postponed indefinitely.
Reunion after decades
Thug Life is among the most eagerly awaited Tamil films of the year, reuniting Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam nearly four decades after their iconic collaboration in Nayakan (1987), a film considered a landmark in Indian cinema.
The gangster drama features an ensemble cast including Silambarasan TR, Trisha, Nasser, Joju George, Abhirami, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sanya Malhotra, and Ali Fazal. The music has been composed by A.R. Rahman.
Jointly produced by Raaj Kamal Films International and Madras Talkies, and distributed by Red Giant Movies, Thug Life will be closely followed by fans and critics alike as it hits cinema halls on Thursday
IANS inputs
Published: 04 Jun 2025, 09:03 pm IST
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