Despite a Supreme Court order, Karnataka distributor Venkatesh Kamalakar refused to release Kamal Haasan’s ‘Thug Life’, calling it “too risky” and saying it won’t work two weeks after release amid ongoing language controversy.
Bengaluru: Venkatesh Kamalakar, the distributor of Kamal Haasan’s film ‘Thug Life’ in Karnataka, stated on Wednesday that he will not release the movie despite a Supreme Court order, believing it won’t perform well at the box office two weeks after its nationwide release.
‘Thug Life,’ directed by Mani Ratnam, premiered across India on June 5, but its release in Karnataka has been delayed due to a controversial remark made by Haasan, claiming that “Kannada was born out of Tamil.”
Following a petition from a Bengaluru resident seeking the film’s release, the Supreme Court ruled on June 17 that it is the state’s responsibility to ensure a film is shown in theatres once it has received a Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Kamalakar expressed that releasing the film would be impractical, given that Haasan’s statement had hurt the sentiments of Kannada speakers.
He remarked,
“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,”
Kamalakar noted that while Haasan’s film ‘Vikram’ was successful in Karnataka, he does not have a fan base there that would support his films unconditionally.
Explaining that he primarily distributes big-budget Tamil films in Karnataka, he said,
“When it comes to his films, the success depends on how good it is. ‘Thug Life’ is generally considered not a good film by many. So, it is too risky,”
Industry sources revealed that the distributor had already paid around Rs 9 crore as an advance for the film. Kamalakar confirmed that he did pay an advance, though he did not disclose the exact amount, and he is not worried about retrieving it.
He questioned,
“It is not like it is our fault. Things turned out the way they did, and when there is no profit, which theatre owner will agree to showcase the film?”
Meanwhile, several pro-Kannada groups in Bengaluru have reportedly urged theatres not to screen the film, despite the Supreme Court’s directive.
Earlier, Bengaluru Police posted notices at the homes of several pro-Kannada activists, informing them that protests are only permitted at the designated site of Freedom Park.
However, Praveen Shetty, a prominent protester who leads a faction of the Kannada Rakshana Vedike, allegedly refused to accept the notice or take responsibility for any protests.
Earlier, Shetty stated that he had not yet received the notice from the police.
He added,
“But Kannadigas will not surely watch that film,”
The RT Nagar Police, under whose jurisdiction Shetty’s residence falls, ultimately posted the notice in front of his house.