"Ram Gopal Varma endorses democracy's form through Kamal Haasan support amid potential ban of Thug Life, later removes tweet"
Headline: Ram Gopal Varma Slams Intolerance amid Kamal Haasan's "Thug Life" Ban Threat
Author: Aman Wadhwa
Updated: Jun 02, 2025, 09:59 PM IST | Edited by: Aman Wadhaw
Director Ram Gopal Varma, renowned for his outspoken views, publicly criticized the threats being hurled at actor Kamal Haasan over his Kannada-Tamil origin statement. Taking to social media on Monday, Varma dubbed the demand for an apology and potential ban of Haasan's upcoming film "Thug Life" as a new form of hooliganism. Interestingly, Varma's tweet was swiftly taken down, but not before it caught the attention of many.
Ram Gopal Varma, impatient with the rising intolerance in society, had tweeted, "DEMOCRACY's new name is INTOLERANCE..irrespective of factual correctness, threats to ban #ThugLife in Karnataka unless @ikamalhaasan apologises, amounts to a new kind of HOOLIGANISM." The tweet followed a heated debate between Kannada groups, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, and language activists on one side, and Kamal Haasan on the other, regarding the origin of Kannada.
Haasan, during the promotions of "Thug Life," suggested that Kannada had origins in Tamil. This statement sparked outrage among Kannada activists, who pressured the actor to retract his statement and tender an apology. In response, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce decided that Haasan's film "Thug Life" would not release in Karnataka unless he admitted his mistake.
However, Haasan refuses to back down, pledging to apologize only if he is proven wrong. Refusing the demands to apologize, the actor has approached the Karnataka High Court to ensure the release of his film amidst calls for a ban from Kannada organizations. The High Court has been petitioned to issue directives to the Karnataka government, the police department, and film bodies, urging them not to interfere with the release and screening of Haasan's movie.
Meanwhile, the state government has maintained a neutral stance, emphasizing the importance of unity in language matters. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce has met with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, demanding that the release of Haasan's "Thug Life" be barred in Karnataka. The Chief Minister has assured them of legal cooperation and emphasized the government's commitment to preserving cultural sensitivities.
As a result of the Chief Minister's meeting, the distributors of "Thug Life" are now in a precarious position and have requested an additional day from the Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce to make a decision. With Haasan expected to return to Chennai on Tuesday, the distributors are expected to discuss the matter with the actor and make a final decision regarding the screening of his movie.
"Thug Life" is one of the most hotly anticipated films of the year, marking the reunion of Haasan and legendary filmmaker Mani Ratnam after 38 years since their cult classic "Nayakan" in 1987. Apart from Haasan, the film stars Silambarasan TR, Trisha, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Nassar, Joju George, Mahesh Manjrekar, Ali Fazal, Sanya Malhotra, and Rohit Saraf among others. The AR Rahman musical will grace the screens worldwide on June 5.
With inputs from IANS
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- Bollywood and Indian entertainment have been abuzz with the ongoing controversy surrounding Kamal Haasan's film "Thug Life," as the actor refuses to apologize for his controversial statement about Kannada's origins.
- The career of celebrated actor and filmmaker Kamal Haasan has been in the spotlight due to the threats of the movie's ban in Karnataka following his statement about Kannada's origins.
- The feud between filmmakers and pop-culture groups has been at the forefront of India's entertainment landscape, as Ram Gopal Varma addresses the intolerance surrounding the potential ban of Kamal Haasan's film, "Thug Life."
