Latest news with #Pro-Kannada
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
'We will not release': Karnataka distributor defies Supreme Court order on ‘Thug Life'
Despite a Supreme Court directive clearing the way for the release of Kamal Haasan's 'Thug Life' in Karnataka, the film's local distributor has firmly stated he has no intention of screening it in the state, The New Indian Express reported. Venkatesh Kamalakar, who had acquired the distribution rights for Karnataka under the banner of VR Films, confirmed that he is opting out of the release altogether. 'We are not planning to release, and we will not release. We had taken the distribution rights for Thug Life but couldn't proceed earlier due to the issues already known,' Venkatesh told the publication. With the film already into its third week since release, he dismissed the possibility of a delayed rollout. 'It's already been two weeks. The film is underperforming everywhere, collections are falling, and multiplexes are not enthusiastic. They're now offering only 30 per cent of what we originally expected,' he said. (Also Read: 'Thug Life' row: Pro-Kannada outfit chief says Kamal Haasan 'should have apologised') Insiders also pointed to financial disputes between the production team and distributor as another reason for the impasse. According to the report, the producers have not repaid a significant advance, reportedly amounting to several crores, to the distributor, and the matter remains unresolved. While Venkatesh refrained from discussing specifics of the business deal, he made it clear that the producers cannot release the film in Karnataka through another channel without settling matters first. 'If the production house wants to release the film directly, they can go through another distributor. But they can only take that call after the settlement is made,' he said. Asked whether another distributor could intervene and take over the release, he responded unequivocally, 'No. Without our confirmation, they cannot distribute it. We haven't received any intimation from the producers or multiplex chains about a Karnataka release. And to be honest, we're not interested anymore.' (Also Read: Bengaluru beats hill stations Lonavala, Srinagar with unusually cool temperatures)
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
‘A true gentleman': John Abraham wins hearts as he accepts bouquet from fan but gives it to airport staff instead
Actor John Abraham is winning hearts on social media with his sweet gesture towards a female airport staff member. The actor was spotted exiting the Mumbai airport on Thursday morning, when he gave a flower bouquet to the staff member, who seemed surprised to receive the unexpected gift from him. (Also read: 'We aren't opposing release of Kamal Haasan's Thug Life in Karnataka, we'll accept SC order': Pro-Kannada organisation) In the video shared by a paparazzo account on Instagram, John was seen walking towards the exit gate of the airport, surrounded by his other crew members. An eager male fan gifted John a bouquet of roses upon arrival, which he accepted with a smile. However, he went ahead and asked the fan's permission and then gifted the same bouquet to a female airport staff member. She looked surprised with the gift and thanked John. Check out the video here: A post shared by Instant Bollywood (@instantbollywood) Reacting to the sweet gesture, a fan commented, 'He asked him first ... He is a true gentleman.' Another fan said, 'Ye banda puri Bollywood industry se alag hain (This man is different from the entire industry).' A comment read, 'Aww, the fan was so happy.' 'He's a talented actor and an even better person!' said another fan. Fans saw John last in The Diplomat. Released in theatres with minimum promotion and buzz, the film put up a decent box office performance after it opened on March 14. The Diplomat is produced by John's JA Entertainment along with T-Series, Vipul D Shah, Ashwin Varde, Rajesh Bahl of Wakaoo Films, Sameer Dixit and Jatish Varma of Fortune Pictures and Rakesh Dang of Seeta Films. Set against the backdrop of India–Pakistan relations, the film explores themes of diplomacy and the personal conflicts faced by diplomats. It is directed by Shivam Nair. It is now available to watch on Netflix.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
DK Shivakumar appeals for calm after SC order on Thug Life: ‘Don't take law into your hands'
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday urged pro-Kannada organisations to uphold peace and abide by the Supreme Court's directive allowing the screening of Kamal Haasan's film Thug Life in the state. Also Read - 'Tipping feels like bribing': Bengaluru Woman's post on auto apps sparks online debate Responding to the apex court's order, which asked the state government to ensure that the film is released without disruption, Shivakumar said, 'We should all respect the court's decision in the Kamal Haasan case. I appeal to pro-Kannada organisations not to cross the line and to maintain peace. No one should take the law into their own hands. Our state has always been known for peace.' Shivakumar's appeal came hours after the Supreme Court sought an explanation from the Karnataka government over delays and opposition to the release of Thug Life, which hit theatres across India on June 5. Also Read - 'Raid all 136 Congress MLAs instead of…': Karnataka Minister over ED summons to DK Suresh The movie—directed by Mani Ratnam and featuring Kamal Haasan, Trisha Krishnan, and Silambarasan TR—ran into controversy in Karnataka after Haasan's comments about the Kannada language were seen as offensive by several local groups. Kannada activists have staged protests and the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) had earlier banned the release of the film in the state, demanding a public apology from the veteran actor. Amid the rising tensions, Kamal Haasan moved the Karnataka High Court seeking intervention to ensure the film's release in the state. The petition was filed through the CEO of his production house, Rajkamal Films International. Speaking to the media last week, Haasan defended his comments and said he would not apologise unless he believed he was in the wrong. 'India is a democracy, and I believe in law and justice. My affection for Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala is well known. Only those with an agenda are questioning it,' he said, adding that he had faced threats before but would not offer an apology under pressure. Despite the backlash, Haasan maintained that he stands by his statements. Pro-Kannada groups, however, have continued to demand a formal apology for what they claim hurt the sentiments of Kannada-speaking people.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
In protecting ‘Thug Life', Supreme Court has protected more than entertainment
The cinema screen is no stranger to censorship in India — both lawful and unlawful. What has changed, however, is the form of silencing. Increasingly, it is not only formal state bans but the louder and more insidious forces of the mob — self-appointed vigilantes who threaten theatres, intimidate viewers, and police speech. The case of Thug Life, a Tamil feature film starring Kamal Haasan, is a troubling iteration of this pattern. The Supreme Court's recent intervention is not merely about one film, but a timely reminder of the constitutional bulwarks protecting free expression, and the enduring obligation of the state to uphold them. The Supreme Court is presently seized of a petition filed by one Mahesh Reddy, who sought protection for the film's screening in Karnataka. Despite receiving certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the film could not be released in the state. The reason: Pro-Kannada groups issued threats of violence in response to Haasan's recent public remark that Kannada was born out of Tamil. This provoked an intense backlash, and theatre owners, fearing arson and protest, pulled the film. Not only did the Karnataka High Court, when approached, fail to dismiss the 'extra-judicial ban' in the State, but shockingly nudged Haasan to apologise — a move that the Supreme Court found wholly inappropriate. In transferring the matter from the High Court to itself, the bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan, on June 17, made it abundantly clear that law and order cannot be hijacked by public sentiment. 'We can't allow mobs to take over,' the Court said. That statement, though directed at the Karnataka state government, reverberates far beyond this individual case. This is not the first time that India's highest court has come to the rescue of filmmakers facing illegal censorship. Nor is this the first time that states, despite repeated judicial warnings, have failed in their constitutional duties. In Union of India v. K M Shankarappa (2001), the Court laid down the principle in no uncertain terms: Once an expert body such as the CBFC has considered the impact of a film on the public and cleared it, it is no excuse to cite law and order problems by the state governments. The job of the respective states is to protect expression, not shrink from it. 'The executive cannot sit in appeal or revision over [a certification],' the Court warned. Yet, time and again, states have violated this boundary. In 2011, Aarakshan, a film starring Amitabh Bachchan addressing caste-based reservation, was banned in Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh despite CBFC clearance. The Supreme Court intervened, noting the state's duty was not to muzzle expression but to maintain law and order. In 2018, the Padmaavat controversy unfolded similarly, as several states rushed to ban the film due to community outrage. The Court stepped in again, reiterating that once a CBFC certificate is granted, the presumption is that all constitutional standards, including concerns around public order, have already been accounted for. More recently, in 2023, the film The Kerala Story faced a blanket ban in West Bengal and a de facto ban in Tamil Nadu. The Supreme Court stayed the West Bengal order and directed Tamil Nadu to ensure security for screenings. It also recommended a disclaimer to address concerns regarding the film's factual accuracy, but refused to entertain demands for a ban. It was, as always, a call to protect speech, not please sentiment. The common thread in all these cases, including Thug Life, is not the controversy over content, but the constitutional clarity on process. The law places faith in a regulatory framework. The CBFC, supported by a statutorily empowered Appellate Tribunal for appeals, is tasked with certifying films. When a film passes that test, no state government can step in to unilaterally nullify it, either directly or by failing to prevent others from doing so. When the law protects cinema, it protects more than entertainment. It defends imagination, dissent, and truth-telling. In a nation as diverse and fraught as ours, films do what few institutions can: They provoke thought, evoke empathy, challenge dominant narratives, and give voice to those on the margins. The Supreme Court has once again affirmed that freedom of speech is not an empty promise. It comes with the expectation that the state will act, not to judge or justify the expression, but to protect the space in which it can exist. As Justice Manmohan aptly put it, whether to watch a film or not is a personal choice. The right of filmmakers to express their views is constitutional. The right of the audience to disagree is democratic. But the right to suppress is neither constitutional nor democratic. The writer is a Delhi-based Advocate and research fellow at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy
India Today
6 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Bengaluru woman, senior citizen clash on 60% Kannada signage rule: This is India
A new row over language erupted in Bengaluru, as a senior citizen and a businesswoman clashed over the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike's (BBMP) signage policy. The incident took place in the Begur area and has since gone viral, reigniting discussions about linguistic identity in argument was over BBMP's regulation that mandates 60 per cent of all commercial signage to be in Kannada. The elderly man alleged that the businesswoman's shop violated this rule, claiming that the Kannada portion on her name board was inadequate. advertisementAs the argument intensifies, she questions the man, 'Who are you to tell me?' He responds, 'I'm a Kannadiga.' Switching to Kannada, he says, 'I'm a man of this soil. The board should contain 60 per cent Kannada text. This woman is saying 'This is India'. Yes, this is India, but this is Karnataka.' The woman replies, 'This is India. You are nobody to tell me what I have to do.'Their heated exchange quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing public attention to the ongoing debate around language usage in public X user defended the senior citizen and wrote, 'Private Property/business has certain Protections & Comforts. The same way, a state made on linguistic differences has its own rules & regulations. You don't get to violate that, saying, 'This is India'.' advertisement Another X user said that the man was not authorised to tell the woman what to do, 'Let the concerned authorities complain if there is an issue with the nameboard,' he wrote. 'Stop harassing small businesses like this. This makes me ashamed of being Kannadiga,' wrote one user. The BBMP rule, introduced to promote and preserve the local language, which came into effect in February 2024, has been at the centre of several such disputes in the past. Pro-Kannada groups, at the time, attacked several businesses in Bengaluru for allegedly not complying with the InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Bengaluru#Karnataka
