Dhruva Sarja Speaks Out on 'Thug Life' Row: “Kannada People Were Hurt by Kamal Haasan’s Remark”
Chennai | July 13, 2025 — Kannada actor Dhruva Sarja on Saturday clarified that Tamil films are regularly released and warmly welcomed in Karnataka, and the only reason Kamal Haasan’s upcoming pan-Indian film ‘Thug Life’ was opposed in the state was due to public sentiment being hurt by one of the actor's past statements regarding the Kannada language.
Speaking to the press in Chennai during the Tamil teaser launch of his upcoming film ‘KD: The Devil’, Sarja addressed questions surrounding regional film releases and linguistic sensitivities.
“We Love Our Mother Tongue, Just Like You Do Yours” – Dhruva Sarja
Dhruva Sarja responded candidly when a reporter pointed out the imbalance between Tamil films releasing smoothly in Karnataka, while a recent Tamil film faced opposition.
“There have been a lot of Tamil films that have released in Karnataka even before I was born. Nobody stopped them,” Sarja explained. “In this particular case, people got offended by a statement made by Kamal Haasan. Let me be direct and open about it.”
He emphasized that love and pride for one’s mother tongue exists across states and is not unique to any one region.
“Here, everybody loves their mother tongue. Similarly, we love and adore ours. When it comes to our language, people will definitely react,” he stated. “Except for that one film, all other Tamil films have released in Karnataka without issues.”
Director Prem: “Karnataka is Not Another Country”
Director Prem, who was present at the event, also weighed in on the controversy, reinforcing the unity among South Indian states.
“All films release in Karnataka. Also, this is not another country. We are just 300 km away. We are all one,” Prem said.
The filmmaker further clarified that the opposition wasn’t against Tamil films, but rather, was in response to a specific comment made by Kamal Haasan, which many in Karnataka perceived as disrespectful.
“People felt hurt because the statement was about our mother tongue. They didn’t say Tamil films shouldn’t release — they just asked for an apology from Kamal sir. That’s all. We all, including me, watch Tamil films.”
The 'Thug Life' Controversy Explained
Kamal Haasan’s highly anticipated film ‘Thug Life’, directed by Mani Ratnam, faced release hurdles in Karnataka after a resurfaced video of the actor’s comments led to backlash among Kannada-speaking audiences. The film, promoted as a pan-Indian release, has drawn attention for its grand scale, ensemble cast, and social commentary.
However, Kannada groups called for a boycott of the film unless Kamal Haasan issued a public apology for his alleged remarks on the Kannada language. The issue reignited the sensitive and recurring debate on linguistic pride vs. pan-Indian unity.
Despite the controversy, Tamil films such as 'Vikram', 'Jailer', and 'Leo' have seen massive success in Karnataka in recent years, underlining that the audience’s protest was issue-specific, not industry-wide.
Unity Through Cinema: A Message of Reconciliation
The statements made by Dhruva Sarja and Prem aim to diffuse tensions and reinforce cultural solidarity across South India. Both emphasized that cinema is a shared cultural experience, and isolated controversies should not derail the long-standing mutual admiration between industries.
As Dhruva Sarja put it:
“Our Kannada audience will always encourage good films. But when it comes to self-respect and language, people will stand up — just as anyone else would.”
Final Thoughts from The Trending People
The ‘Thug Life’ controversy reminds us that while Indian cinema is becoming increasingly pan-regional, cultural sensitivity and mutual respect remain vital. Dhruva Sarja’s remarks highlight the importance of acknowledging local emotions while promoting national unity through art.
With powerful voices like Sarja and Prem advocating for dialogue over division, there’s hope that cinema will continue to be a bridge — not a barrier — between linguistic and cultural communities.
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