Kamal Haasan’s Effigy Burnt as Pro-Kannada Groups Intensify Protests Over ‘Tamil Origins’ Remark

Pro-Kannada groups across Karnataka intensified their protests against Tamil actor Kamal Haasan on Saturday, burning his effigies and demanding a complete ban on his upcoming film ‘Thug Life’ after he refused to apologize for his controversial statement claiming “Kannada is born out of Tamil.” The protests escalated following Haasan’s defiant stance at a recent event where he declared he would not apologize unless proven wrong.

Members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and other pro-Kannada organizations staged demonstrations in multiple cities, burning the actor’s effigies and posters while urging cinema halls not to screen his Mani Ratnam-directed film scheduled for June 5 release.

The controversy deepened when Kamal Haasan, at a recent public event, categorically refused to issue an apology for his linguistic statement. “Love will never apologise. I will apologise only if I am wrong. If I am not, I will not,” the veteran actor declared, further inflaming tensions.

His defiant stance has been viewed by pro-Kannada activists as disrespectful to Karnataka’s linguistic heritage and cultural identity, prompting more aggressive protest actions across the state.

On Saturday, pro-Kannada organizations led by Lok Sabha MP LR Shivarame Gowda and other activists visited cinema halls across Karnataka, pressuring theatre owners not to screen ‘Thug Life.’ The groups have been systematically approaching multiplexes and single-screen theatres to ensure the film’s boycott.

“We won’t allow the release of this movie,” the protesters declared, appealing to both theatre owners and the general public to join their campaign against the film.

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) announced a complete ban on ‘Thug Life’ in the state on Friday, lending institutional support to the protest movement. This decision effectively prevents the film from being screened in any cinema hall across Karnataka.

The film chamber’s decision represents a significant escalation in the controversy, moving beyond street protests to official industry action against the Tamil superstar’s upcoming release.

The controversy has also engulfed Kannada actor Shiva Rajkumar, who expressed support for Kamal Haasan. Protesters gathered outside Rajkumar’s residence, with some throwing stones at his house after he praised Haasan’s contribution to cinema, including Kannada films.

Video footage of the stone-throwing incident at Rajkumar’s home went viral on social media, highlighting how the controversy has divided the film fraternity across linguistic lines.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike members conducted effigy burning ceremonies in different parts of the state, with videos and photographs of these protests circulating widely on social media platforms. The symbolic protests demonstrate the depth of anger among Kannada activists.

The burning of effigies represents a traditional form of protest in Indian political culture, typically reserved for expressing strong disapproval of public figures’ actions or statements.

The protests have also referenced Haasan’s role as producer in the biographical film ‘Amaran,’ with some groups, including SDPI, burning his effigy over the film’s portrayal of Major Mukund’s death. This adds another layer to the ongoing controversy surrounding the actor.

The ‘Amaran’ controversy demonstrates how the current linguistic dispute has merged with other grievances against the Tamil actor.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mani Ratnam, ‘Thug Life’ was scheduled for a June 5 theatrical release. However, the complete ban announced by KFCC and ongoing protests have effectively derailed the film’s Karnataka release plans.

The film features Kamal Haasan in the lead role and was expected to be one of the major releases of the year before the linguistic controversy erupted.

Language-based controversies have a long history in South Indian politics, particularly involving Tamil and other Dravidian languages. Such disputes often reflect deeper cultural and political tensions between linguistic communities.

Videos and images from the protests have gone viral on social media platforms, with hashtags related to the controversy trending across Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The digital amplification has helped mobilize more protesters while also spreading awareness about the dispute.