"Too Risky": Karnataka Distributor Refuses To Release Kamal Hassan's 'Thug Life'
Bengaluru:
Will not release Kamal Hassan's 'Thug Life' despite Supreme Court's order because I don't think it will do good business here two weeks after it was released across India, said Venkatesh Kamalakar, the distributor of the film in Karnataka on Wednesday.
'Thug Life', directed by Mani Ratnam, released across India on June 5. In Karnataka, the film is yet to release due to the controversial statement made by Haasan that 'Kannada was born out of Tamil'.
On a petition filed by a Bengaluru resident seeking the release of the film in Karnataka, the Supreme Court had on June 17 held that it is the duty of the state to ensure that a film is released in theatres once it gets a Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate.
Speaking to PTI, Mr Kamalakar said it also does not make sense to release the film considering that Kannadigas' sentiments were hurt by what Haasan had said about Kannada language.
"But mostly it is because it is not a good business decision to release the film now. His previous film 'Indian 2' also did not do well here in Karnataka," said Mr Kamalakar.
The distributor said Mr Haasan's 'Vikram' did well in Karnataka, but he does not have a fan base here that will blindly go to his film, no matter what.
"When it comes to his films, the success depends on how good it is. 'Thug Life' is generally considered as not a good film by many. So, it is too risky," said Kamalakar, who distributes mostly big budget Tamil films in Karnataka.
According to industry sources, the distributor had already paid about Rs 9 crore as advance.
Mr Kamalakar agreed he did pay an advance amount without disclosing the amount, but said he is not anticipating any difficulty in getting it back.
"It is not like it is our fault. Things turned out the way it did and when there is no profit, which theatre owner will agree to showcase the film," he asked.
Meanwhile, many pro Kannada outfits in Bengaluru have allegedly asked the theatres not to showcase the film despite SC's directive.
On Wednesday, Bengaluru Police posted notices on the houses of several pro Kannada activists. They informed the activists that they are not allowed to protest anywhere other than the designated protest site of Freedom Park.
But Praveen Shetty, one of the very vocal protesters of the statement, and who has his own faction of Kannada Rakshana Vedike, had allegedly refused to accept the notice as well as responsibility for any protests.
Earlier, speaking to PTI Videos, Mr Shetty had said that he is yet to receive the notice from the police.
"But Kannadigas will not surely watch that film," he added.
RT Nagar Police, under whose jurisdiction his house falls, finally posted the notice in front of his house.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
"This is a film about friendship": Abhishek Bachchan talks about his upcoming project 'Kaalidhar Laapataa'
Actor Abhishek Bachchan talked about his upcoming film 'Kaalidhar Laapataa' and shared why he decided to be part of the project. Actor Abhishek Bachchan talked about his upcoming film 'Kaalidhar Laapataa' and shared why he decided to be part of the project. Directed by Madhumita , the film also features Daivik Bhagela and Zeeshan Ayyub in pivotal roles. In a conversation with ANI, he said, "Nikkhil Adv(producer) approached me. Nikkhil is a very old friend of mine. I have known him since he was an assistant director. He approached me and said that this is a story and we want you to hear it. As soon as I heard it, I said yes." While praising the director, he added, "The way Madhumita, the director of this film, told me the story, the way she wanted to make this film, I really liked it. Especially the values in this film, what I learned from the story.. I really liked it. This is a film about friendship, a journey in life, what to do and what not to do, what to do for yourself, what to do for your family. I liked all these things..." On his preparation for his role, he shared, "We have to wek very hard. The good thing is, most of the work was already written in the script. So, the writers who do the work, it is very important, because it makes our work very easy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Here's A List Of Cheapest Steel Suppliers (See List) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo And Madhumita, when we used to sit on the readings of this film, we used to do our workshops, of it was already on paper. You just had to say the lines honestly. She used to handle the rest. So, Madhumita should get the credit for this." Bachchan gives credit to the director for taking care of minute details in filmmaking. "Madhumita is a very particular director. Although, this is her first Hindi film. She has done a lot of Tamil films before this. But still, she pays attention to everything. And I think that is visible. From casting to production design, costume, dialogue, pronunciation, speech, everything. So, when your director pays attention to all these things, our work becomes very easy. " Earlier, taking to his X, Abhishek Bachchan shared the poster of his upcoming film directed by Madhumita and set to stream on Zee5. The film will be released on an OTT platform on July the poster, the actor is seen sitting in a tree sporting a dense beard. The actor wore a white checked shirt and pyjamas. The background appeared to be that of a sharing the poster, Abhishek Bachchan wrote, "Sometimes, getting lost isn't a detour, it's where the real story begins. Full of dreams, twists, and the people who make it worth it. #KaalidharLaapata premieres 4th July, only on #ZEE5." 'Kaalidhar Laapata' features Abhishek Bachchan in the titular role, alongside Daivik Bhagela and Zeeshan Ayyub in pivotal roles. Before announcing the project, the actor shared a cryptic post on X. The note which reads like a poem talks about the desire to hide away from everyone in order to find oneself again, "Main ekbaar lapaata hona chahta hoon, bheed mein khud ko phir se paana chahta hoon. Jo kuch bhi tha sab de diya apno ke liye, ab zara sa waqt bas apne liye chahta hoon (I want to be lost once, I want to find myself in a crowd. Whatever was mine, I gave away for the sake of my own kin. Now I wish to take out some time for my own self)." Abhishek was last seen in Housefull 5. It starred Riteish Deshmukh and Akshay Kumar in the lead roles. The actor will also be seen in the Riteish Deshmukh and Sanjay Dutt starrer 'Raja Shivaji'.The film will hit the theatres on May 1, 2026 in Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. The film will be directed by Riteish Deshmukh and also stars Genelia Deshmukh, Mahesh Manjrekar , Fardeen Khan, and Ajay-Atul and legendary cinematographer Santosh Sivan have come on board to enhance the musical and cinematography of the film, which is currently in production across Mumbai and Wai in Maharashtra.
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
Rashmika Mandanna On Acting Opposite Dhanush In Kuberaa: ‘No Choice But To Kill It'
Last Updated: Rashmika Mandanna didn't forget to mention the behind-the-scenes crew, thanking the direction, camera, light, and costume departments. Rashmika Mandanna took a moment to reflect on her journey with Kuberaa, as the film opened in cinemas worldwide today in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi. The actress, who plays Sameera in the Sekhar Kammula directorial, shared a heartfelt note on social media alongside behind-the-scenes pictures from the set, expressing her gratitude and admiration for the team and her co-stars Dhanush and Nagarjuna. Rashmika began by thanking director Sekhar Kammula, who she said was the reason she chose to be part of Kuberaa. 'Sameera from Kuberaa… being directed by Shekar Kammula sir… there's just something about him that made me perform Sameera the way I did. His genuine love for the craft always overflows to his films and that's the reason I wanted to work with him," she wrote. Talking about the responsibility of working alongside powerhouses like Dhanush and Nagarjuna, Rashmika shared, 'When you work with such amazing people, who are just such brilliant actors… it's a big big biggggg responsibility to be good yourself to elevate their performances. But when you have a brilliant actor like @dhanushkraja sir, you have no other choice but to kill it when you share the screen with him." She also praised Nagarjuna, calling him an inspiration both as an actor and a person. 'Nag sir, words can never do justice to him… I truly adore and admire him… he is just the best. His way of life is just the most special," Rashmika added. Rashmika didn't forget to mention the behind-the-scenes crew, thanking the direction, camera, light, and costume departments. 'The whole gang… you know the direction department is loveeeee. I LOVEDDDDDD working with you guys ya… so so damn fun you guys are." She ended her note with a promise: 'Sameera is the most beautiful kind of chaos and when you watch the film, you'll understand why I am saying this. Kuberaa is now in theatres and trust me, it'll be worth your while!" Kuberaa also stars Jim Sarbh and is produced by Suniel Narang and Puskur Ram Mohan Rao. First Published: June 21, 2025, 00:51 IST
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Working as a software engineer gives me financial independence to pursue acting: Raviksha Shetty
My debut was supposed to happen much earlier, but a road accident significantly delayed it,' shares actress Raviksha Shetty. Undeterred, she recovered swiftly and is now off to an impressive start in Kannada cinema. 'I signed Peter, where I was paired opposite Rajesh Dhruva,. I am also acting in films like Seat Edge, Marika, and more. I'm glad for this decent beginning as an actor, and can't wait to see myself on the silver screen.' 'AS A FRESHER, I CAN'T DEMAND A CERTAIN PAY, BUT I CAN ENSURE THE QUALITY OF MY WORK' A software engineer at a private firm in Bengaluru, Raviksha shares, 'I believe in financial independence. Coming from a middleclass family, my interest in acting was met with negativity due to the hurdles newcomers face. To overcome this, I decided to work until I establish a strong foothold in the industry. This also ensures I don't compromise on the quality of my work. As a fresher, I can't demand a certain pay, which is annoying, so an alternate financial source is crucial for me to sustain myself. With work-from-home options and by using my leaves for shoots, I'm managing both perfectly.' 'MY ROLE CHOICES ARE DRIVEN BY WHAT RESONATES WITH AUDIENCES' 'As newcomers, we don't have many options,' she acknowledges. 'But as an audience, I know certain characters leave an everlasting impression. I aspire to play those kinds of roles — ones that make a huge impact and remain etched in viewers' minds for years,' Ravishka says.
