Language Remark Sparks Backlash

During the audio launch of Thug Life in Chennai on May 24, Haasan remarked that “Kannada is born out of Tamil,” a statement that triggered strong backlash from pro-Kannada groups and activists across Karnataka. Accusing the actor of undermining Kannada’s linguistic identity, several organisations demanded a public apology and called for a boycott of the film.

In response, the KFCC imposed a statewide ban on the release of Thug Life, announcing the decision on May 30 after issuing a 24-hour ultimatum to Haasan. The ban has since become a focal point of debate, stirring tensions between linguistic and regional communities.

Legal Action and Security Appeal

Refusing to issue an apology, Kamal Haasan stood by his statement, asserting, “If I’m wrong, I’ll apologise. If I’m not, I won’t. This is my lifestyle, please don’t tamper with it.” In his petition, submitted through Raaj Kamal Films International—his production house—Haasan has urged the High Court to intervene and instruct the Karnataka government and concerned authorities to ensure an unhindered release of the film.

The petition also requests appropriate police protection at theaters exhibiting Thug Life across Karnataka, seeking that the court direct the state’s Director General of Police and the City Police Commissioner to take necessary measures.

Awaiting Court’s Verdict

Thug Life, scheduled for release on June 5, now hangs in legal and political limbo. The court’s decision in the coming days is expected to play a crucial role in determining whether the film will hit Karnataka theatres as planned or remain blocked amid the ongoing controversy.

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Nag Ashwin’s groundbreaking dystopian sci-fi epic, Kalki 2898 AD, featuring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Amitabh Bachchan, has made a grand entrance on OTT platforms after a massive box office run, earning over ₹1,000 crore.

Where to Stream Kalki 2898 AD

The much-anticipated Kalki 2898 AD is now available for streaming on both Netflix India and Prime Video India. The Hindi version is exclusively on Netflix India, while the original Telugu version, along with other regional languages like Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada, is streaming on Prime Video India. This dual-platform release is somewhat unusual for a pan-India film, which typically streams in all languages on a single platform.

About Kalki 2898 AD

Boasting a star-studded ensemble that includes Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Prabhas, Kamal Haasan, Disha Patani, Anna Ben, Saswata Chatterjee, Shobhana, and several surprise cameos, this action-packed adventure film blends elements of the Hindu epic Mahabharata with science fiction. Produced by Vyjayanthi Movies, the film hit theatres on June 27 and has since become one of the biggest cinematic successes of 2024, raking in over ₹1,100 crore globally.

Prabhas, who takes on the role of Bhairava in the film, described the experience as “truly exhilarating.” He shared, “The film pushes the boundaries of storytelling by intertwining mythology with futuristic elements, while also exploring the depths of human nature. Playing Bhairava, a character defined by strength and conviction, was incredibly fulfilling. After the overwhelming love *Kalki 2898 AD* received in theatres, I’m eagerly looking forward to its global debut on Prime Video.”

Director Nag Ashwin, renowned for his work on Yevade Subramanyam and the National Award-winning Mahanati, aimed to create a cinematic masterpiece that breaks new ground and transcends conventional boundaries, all while sharing India’s rich cultural mythology with the world. Reflecting on the film’s success, he said, “The immense global box office success is truly humbling and highlights the universal appeal of stories rooted in Indian mythology. While it was embraced in theatres, I’m thrilled that Kalki 2898 AD will now reach an even broader audience on Prime Video.”       

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The story of Kalki continues to be a topic of conversation among the people. But apart from the story, the appearance of the actors is also a talking point. Meanwhile, Nag Ashwin revealed who inspired Kamal Haasan’s look.

Prabhas and Deepika Padukone starrer ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ is ruling the box office. This movie is going fast and making its mark in domestic and global collections. Directed by Nag Ashwin, the sci-fi film is making headlines with its strong story, VFX and excellent acting.

Kamal Haasan shines even with less screen time

Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Prabhas star in Kalki 2898 AD. Kamal Haasan does not have an important role in this part of the film, but it was revealed that his character will be detailed in the second part. This talented South Indian actor has given a great performance on the shorter screen. However, some users attributed his appearance to Lord Valdermont from “Yakin” Harry Potter. Now Nag Ashwin has revealed the truth.

Where did the idea for Kamal Haasan’s look come from?

Nag Ashwin said that there is no similarity between Kamal Haasan and Lord Valdermont, both roles. Our reference was Tibetan monks, whose age is supposed to be 120-130 years. Kamal Haasan talked about Dorian Gray and was inspired by him. We don’t have many references to this ancient aspect, he said.

The director said he was inspired by Iron Man from the Marvel movies. He said: “We grew up watching Marvel movies. Guardians of the Galaxy was more influential than Iron Man. Star Wars also had an influence.

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The 1996 movie Indian has a sequel called Indian 2. Lyca Productions, the film production that moved to X, offered fans an exciting trailer. The trailer is full of excitement and Kamal Haasan leaves his fans in awe of his stunts and disguises.

The character played by Siddharth, who questions the system’s shortcomings, is first shown in the trailer. Kamal Haasan reprises his role as a spirited freedom fighter. In the video, Kamal Senapathy’s character, who once fought against the system, returns to save the society. Kamal Haasan appears in many guises in the trailer. He also says, “It’s another freedom war. You take Gandhi’s approach, while I take Netaji’s approach” in the trailer.

Sharing the trailer, the makers captioned it, “SENAPATHY is back in vogue! The much awaited #Hindustani2 trailer IS NOW, packed with amazing action and visuals that will keep you hooked.” Indian 2 is a sequel to the 1996 film Indian, in which Kamal also played Veerasekaran Senapathy. The franchise is bringing back Kamal and director S Shankar for the sequel.

The makers recently unveiled the first single called Paaraa.

Moving on to the official X, Kamal Haasan dropped the music video and captioned it, “INDIAN-2 #PAARAA IS OUT NOW!”

The video gives a glimpse into the background of Kamal’s apathy.

The animated part of the clip shows a man fighting against the British during the independence movement, while his lover awaits his safe return. Hitmaker Anirudh Ravichander wrote the song, which is performed by him and Shruthika Samudhrala. 

The film also stars Sidharth, Rakul Preet Singh and Kajal Aggarwal. Anirudh Ravichander composed the soundtrack for Indian 2, which was written by Jayamohan, Kabilan Vairamuthu, and Lakshmi Saravanakumar. At the 2020 Pongal festival, the first poster for Indian 2 was released

Produced by Lyca Productions and Red Giant Movies, Indian 2 will release worldwide in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu on July 12, 2024.

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