Kamal Haasan's Thug Life Faces Karnataka Ban: Financial Impact Revealed

Kamal Haasan's much-anticipated film Thug Life has been banned in Karnataka following controversial remarks about the Kannada language. Despite attempts to lift the ban through the Karnataka High Court, the film's producers are facing substantial financial losses estimated between Rs 35-40 crore. The controversy erupted during the film's audio launch, where Haasan made statements regarding Tamil and Kannada languages. The film features a notable cast and has generated significant buzz, but the Karnataka market's absence could severely impact its overall revenue. Read on to learn more about the implications of this ban and the film's potential earnings.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 5, 2025, 17:43 IST

Thug Life's Release Stalled in Karnataka

The highly anticipated film Thug Life, directed by Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, has officially premiered in theaters across India today, with the exception of Karnataka. The state imposed a ban on the film's release following a controversial remark made by Kamal Haasan, who stated that 'Kannada was born out of Tamil,' leading to significant backlash.

Despite Kamal Haasan's efforts to seek permission from the Karnataka High Court for the film's screening, the court indicated that a 'simple apology' could have resolved the matter. However, Kamal maintained that his comments were misinterpreted and declined to apologize.

As reported by a local media outlet, the producers of Thug Life are projected to incur losses ranging from Rs 35-40 crore in gross box office earnings and Rs 12-15 crore in distributor shares due to the halted release in Karnataka.

G Dhananjayan, the producer and distributor, elaborated on the potential financial repercussions, noting that major Telugu films such as Pushpa 2, Baahubali 2, RRR, and Kalki 2898 AD have collectively generated Rs 391.2 crore from the Karnataka market alone. He emphasized that the Karnataka box office contributes approximately 7% to the total revenue.

He further pointed out that Tamil blockbusters like Jailer, Leo, Ponniyin Selvan, The GOAT, and Vikram have also seen substantial earnings from Karnataka, reinforcing the significance of this market.

The controversy began during the audio launch of Thug Life in Chennai, where Haasan paid an emotional tribute to his Tamil heritage, stating, 'Uyire Urave Tamizhe,' which translates to 'My life and my family is Tamil.' He also acknowledged Kannada superstar Shivarajkumar, asserting that 'Your language was born out of Tamil,' thereby including him in the narrative.

The film features a star-studded cast, including Trisha, Silambarasan, Abhirami, Sanya Malhotra, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Rohit Saraf, and Vaiyapuri.