Kamal Haasan’s fans are going all out to catch his new film, “Thug Life,” despite it being banned in Karnataka. The movie’s release has been blocked in the state due to controversy over the actor’s comments on the Kannada language. However, this hasn’t deterred his loyal supporters, who are flocking to neighboring Tamil Nadu to watch the film.
On social media, fans are sharing their experiences of traveling to Hosur, a town in Tamil Nadu, to catch the movie. One user tweeted, “Thug Life is banned in Karnataka, but no one can stop our love for Kamal Haasan. All the fans in Bangalore are gathered here in Hosur!” The tweet included a photo of fans celebrating outside a single-screen theater in Hosur, with fireworks and banners.
The distance between Bangalore and Hosur is approximately 42 kilometers, but that hasn’t stopped fans from making the journey. On Reddit, some users asked if it was safe to travel to Tamil Nadu to watch the film, given the current tensions between the two states. One user asked, “I’m a huge fan of Kamal Haasan from Bangalore. Is it safe to ride my bike to Hosur and watch ‘Thug Life’ tomorrow? Please don’t get angry… I don’t want my bike’s tire to get punctured or scratched.” Other users reassured him that it should be safe, pointing out that many Karnataka-registered vehicles are present in Hosur, just like many Tamil Nadu-registered vehicles are found in Bangalore.
The controversy surrounding “Thug Life” began when Kamal Haasan remarked during a promotional event that the Kannada language originated from Tamil. This statement angered some organizations in Karnataka, which demanded an apology from the actor. However, Kamal Haasan refused to apologize, and the matter eventually reached the high court. On Tuesday, the Karnataka High Court criticized the actor for not apologizing and ordered a stay on the film’s release in the state until the next hearing.