Thug Life will not release in Karnataka on June 5th as Kamal Haasan will meet Karnataka Film Chamber office bearers on June 10th. Earlier in the day, Kamal wrote a letter to KFCC, clarifying his remark, where he said that he did not mean to "diminish Kannada in any way" and only wanted to convey that everyone is from one family. However, since Kamal did not express an apology through the letter, the court has decided to put a pause on the Mani Ratnam directorial release, and a legal representative of the production banner Raaj Kamal Films International did not insist on it either until Kamal's meeting with KFCC next week.
Kamal Haasan's production house, Raaj Kamal Films International, told the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday that the actor is keen on entering into a dialogue with Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) to explain his recent controversial comment about Kannada, which had triggered calls to boycott his upcoming film Thug Life in Karnataka [Raajkamal Films International v. State of Karnataka].
Appearing before a Bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna, the counsel representing Raaj Kamal Films said that it would not be insisting on the release of Thug Life in Karnataka until then.
It was also argued that since Haasan has not said anything bad about the Kannada, there is nothing to apologise for.
However, earlier today, the Court criticised Haasan's comment, and added that he should ideally apologise to put the controversy to rest. Haasan's counsel, Senior Advocate Dhyan Chinnappa, was asked to take instructions on whether the actor would like to apologise.
When the matter was heard again this afternoon, Chinnappa replied that the actor's statements were not borne out of malice and that he had already written a letter to the KFCC's chairman earlier today to explain that he has high regard for the Kannada language.
Haasan has made a sincere statement on the matter to the KFCC and would like to enter into a dialogue with KFCC to explain his stance and put the issue to rest, Chinnappa told the Court.
He added that there was nothing in Haasan's statement for him to apologise for and that he should not be compelled to make such a statement.
"Not compulsion, that is the grace that he should have. Why beating around the bush? ... There are many ways of clarifying, but only one way of seeking apology," Justice Nagaprasanna remarked, in turn.
"It was his stand that he has the utmost respect for the language," Chinnappa replied.
"We will accept it, you have written so (in the letter to KFCC)," the judge noted.
"Then there is nothing more to be done," Chinnappa said.
The Court, however, questioned if this has become a matter of ego.
"It may be Kamal Haasan. But sentiments of masses of State has been undermined. You should understand the magnitude of the problem. Your statement can solve everything," Justice Nagaprasanna remarked.
Chinnappa disagreed, saying it is not a matter of ego. He went on to submit that even if the country is divided on linguistic lines, India remains one and that India's unity is more important than a film's release.
"Languages may be many, country is still one," Justice Nagaprasanna agreed.
However, the judge also observed that the entire controversy can be resolved if the actor apologises for any sentiment he may have hurt with this statement.
Chinnappa eventually said that he is not pressing for the petition's prayer of police protection for the film's release today. Rather, Chinnappa said that Haasan is looking to have a dialogue with KFCC on the issue first.
"He (Haasan) said, the art can wait, the film release also can wait... Lordship may adjourn by one week," Chinnappa urged.
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