Raajkamal Films International, the producers of Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life, scheduled to release on June 5, filed a petition before the Karnataka high court on June 2 challenging the ban imposed on the film’s release in Karnataka by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) in view of the actor’s remarks about Kannada language being born out of Tamil. The petitioners have sought a restraining order against KFCC, besides adequate security to the producers, cast and other associated persons.
The KFCC announced the ban on the film’s release in Karnataka on May 30 after Kamal remarked at a press conference of the film that Kannada was born out of Tamil. KFCC chief M. Narasimhalu said that the film’s screening in the state would not be allowed unless the actor offerd an apology. The petitioners said that the ban was arbitrary and illegal, and not based on the film’s content but on alleged personal remarks of the film’s lead actor, Kamal Haasan. They added that the film had no dialogue on the relation between the two languages. The petitioners also said, Kamal publicly acknowledged that his statement was made “out of love” and without any mala fide intent.
