Thug Life Banned in Karnataka? Theatres Back Out, Box Office Loss Looms for Kamal Haasan

Kamal Haasan's upcoming film Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, is facing strong backlash in Karnataka after the veteran actor made a controversial comment claiming that "Kannada was born out of Tamil" during an event in Chennai.

The remark has triggered widespread protests, with pro-Kannada organisations demanding a boycott. As things stand, it looks like Thug Life is effectively banned in Karnataka - even though there's no official government order.

Protest in Bengaluru: Theatre Besieged

On Sunday, members of the pro-Kannada organisation Karnataka Rakshana Vedike attempted to lay siege to Victory Cinema Theatre in Kamakshipalya, Bengaluru, aiming to prevent the release of Thug Life.

Praveen Shetty, a leader of the group, warned the theatre owners not to screen the movie, accusing Kamal Haasan of disrespecting the Kannada language. The protest adds to mounting pressure from pro-Kannada activists across the state.

As advance booking for Thug life are live now, no show has been listed in Karnataka.

Theatres Say 'No Slot' for Kamal Haasan's Film

Following the controversy, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) said that it will not allow the release of Haasan's film Thug Life in Karnataka unless he issues a public apology for his controversial remarks about the Kannada language. Theatre owners are planning to schedule other films on June 5, the day Thug Life releases worldwide, making it easy to say there's "no slot" available for the movie.

"This isn't about the film industry, it's about the emotions of Kannadigas," said KFCC President M Narasimhalu, adding that they would stand by pro-Kannada groups and the Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, who has also asked Haasan to apologise.

Thug Life Box Office Impact

Industry estimates suggest that skipping Karnataka could cost the film ₹5-10 crore. "It's not a huge number for the production house, but it's a dent during a big release," said trade analyst Narendra Gupta.

Trade analyst Komal Nahata believes both sides could lose. "Karnataka is an important state, it does contribute to the film's revenue. Unless one has seen the response to the film, it's difficult to quantify what will be the loss," he said.

Meanwhile, Thug Life is set to release on June 5, 2025. Produced by Raaj Kamal Films International, Madras Talkies, and Red Giant Movies, the film reportedly has a budget of ₹250-300 crores. For both Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, Thug Life is expected to be their biggest opener yet. Despite the controversy, the film is eyeing a strong Day 1 collection of over ₹35 crore net at the Indian box office, positioning it as a potential second-highest Indian opener of 2025.

Theatre Owners Unfazed

Odu Gowdar, president of the Karnataka Film Exhibitors Federation, said theatre owners will not be impacted. "We'll show other movies. The loss will be theirs, not ours," he said. Other films like Housefull 5, releasing on June 6, may take up the screens instead.

Can OTT Recover the Loss?

Despite the controversy, Thug Life is expected to fetch a strong price on digital platforms. With Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam teaming up after 38 years, OTT platforms are likely to pay a premium. The publicity could even drive more viewers to stream the movie.

This Has Happened Before

This isn't the first time a film has faced regional backlash. Baahubali 2 was briefly blocked in Karnataka over actor Sathyaraj's comments, but it was later released and became a blockbuster. The same happened with Padmaavat, which went on to cross ₹500 crore globally.

Will Kamal Haasan Apologise?

As of now, Haasan has reportedly refused to apologise. Without an apology, it's unlikely that Thug Life will hit screens in Karnataka.