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New Delhi: Actor Kamal Haasan has shared his response to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) after the film union body decided to ban the release of his film 'Thug Life' in Karnataka amid the ongoing controversy around his "Kannada is born out of Tamil' remark. In a letter addressed to the President of KFC, Kamal Haasan said that his statement about the Kannada language at his film 'Thug Life' audio launch in Chennai has been "misunderstood" as he claims to have spoken it "out of genuine affection" for legendary Dr Rajkumar's family in Karnataka. "I acknowledge your letter dated 30/05/2025. Out of deep respect for the people of Karnataka, I offer the following with sincerity. It pains me that my statement at the Thug Life audio launch -- spoken out of genuine affection for the legendary Dr. Rajkumar's family, especially Shiva Rajkumar -- has been misunderstood and taken out of context. My words were intended only to convey that we are all one and from the same family and not to diminish Kannada in any way," wrote Kamal Haasan. The 'Thug Life' actor said that he loves all languages and has immense "respect" for the love of the Kannadigas for their language. "There is no dispute or debate on the rich legacy of the Kannada language. Like Tamil, Kannada has a proud literary and cultural tradition that I have long admired. Throughout my career, I have cherished the warmth and affection extended to me by the Kannada-speaking community, and I say this with a clear conscience and conviction: my love for the language is genuine, and I have great respect for the love that Kannadigas have for their mother tongue," wrote Kamal Haasan. He reiterated his love for different languages and wrote, "My bond with Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam -- and all languages of this land-- is abiding and heartfelt. I have always stood for the equal dignity of all Indian languages and remain opposed to the dominance of any one language over another, as such imbalance undermines the linguistic fabric of the Union of India." He further wrote that he only knows and speaks the "language of cinema" as he believes that it is a "universal language" which only knows the way of "love and bonding." "I know and speak the language of Cinema. Cinema is a universal language that knows only love and bonding. My statement was also only to establish that bond and unity amongst all of us. It is this love and bond that my seniors taught me, which I wanted to share. It is out of this love and bond that Shivanna attended the audio launch event. I regret that Shivanna had to go through such embarrassment on account of this. But I'm sure our true love and respect for each other will always remain and get firmer now," wrote Kamal Haasan. He continued, "Cinema must remain a bridge between people -- never a wall that divides them. This was the intent of my statement, and I have never been nor would ever want to give any room for public unrest and animosity. I sincerely hope my words are received in the spirit they were intended, and that my enduring affection for Karnataka, its people, and their language is recognised in its true light. I earnestly believe that this misunderstanding is temporary and an opportunity to reiterate our mutual love and respect." Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday began hearing petitions seeking direction to authorities, including the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, not to take any measures--to restrain or refrain from screening and releasing actor Kamal Hassan's movie 'Thug Life' in Karnataka, which is scheduled for release on June 5. The court has adjourned the matter for 2:30 pm.
Mumbai, Dec 12 (PTI) Malayalam superstar Mohanlal says he will definitely come and work in Hindi movies if filmmakers in Bollywood offer him roles. One of the most influential Malayalam cinema stars, Mohanlal has been part of over 300 films, including all time hits such as "Manichitrathazhu", "Kireedam", "Bharatham", "Drishyam" and "Pulimurugan". "I have done a couple of Hindi films also. But now most of my other films are dubbed into Hindi. When somebody calls me for a role I'll definitely come and work. I don't mind. I don't have a choice. As actors we don't have a choice. Let it come. Let ...Read More >
Chennai: Malayalam actor and director Prithviraj Sukumaran recently revealed that he was given an incredible opportunity by Subaskaran, the head of the renowned Tamil film production house Lyca Productions, to direct a film starring Tamil superstar Rajinikanth. Speaking at the teaser launch of his highly anticipated Malayalam film L2: Empuraan, Prithviraj shared the details, saying, "I have been assigned the task of welcoming Lyca Productions into Malayalam cinema. This obviously is their first ever project in Malayalam. It is a bit of an anecdote. I think now, it is safe to say that Subaskar ...Read More >
Chennai: Hours before Union home minister Amit Shah was to arrive in Madurai, Thuglak editor and an associate of Shah, S Gurumurthy on Saturday met PMK founder S Ramadoss. The PMK leader, however, ruled out the possibility of meeting Amit Shah during his two-day visit to Tamil Nadu.Gurumurthy met Ramadoss for the second time amid reported tension within PMK regarding alliance strategies and insistence by Anbumani Ramadoss to remain party president. The hour-long meeting took place at the T Nagar residence of A K Vijay Mahesh, son of former Union minister and PMK leader A K Moorthy, sources sai ...Read More >
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 27 (ANI): A female student was allegedly gang-raped inside a law college in Kolkata's Kasba on Wednesday evening. The police have arrested all three accused within 24 hours. The three accused, named as Monojit Mishra (31), Zaib Ahmed (19), and Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20), were former students or staff members of the same law college. Also Read | Student Gang-Raped at South Kolkata Law College: Police Arrest 3 Youths for Sexually Assaulting Young Woman Inside Law College. According to the police, the accused named in the FIR will be produced before the A.C.J. ...Read More >
Mysuru/Mandya: Nadaprabhu Kempegowda is the reason Bengaluru enjoys global recognition today, said agriculture minister and Mandya district minister N Cheluvarayaswamy.He was speaking at the inauguration of the 516th Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations held at Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar Kalamandira in Mandya. The event was jointly organised by the district administration and the department of Kannada and culture.Cheluvarayaswamy emphasised that Kempegowda, with remarkable foresight, constructed lakes and temples in Bengaluru over 500 years ago. "His vision laid the foundation for the development ...Read More >
New Delhi/Hyderabad, Dec 18 (UNI) Union Minister and Telangana BJP President G Kishan Reddy emphasised the Modi government's commitment to preserving and promoting India's regional languages. Addressing the media in New Delhi on Wednesday, Reddy highlighted various initiatives undertaken by the central government to strengthen India's linguistic diversity. Reddy noted that India is unparalleled in its cultural and linguistic diversity, with 121 languages spoken across the country. "Our Constitution initially recognised 14 official languages, but this number has increased to 21 under Prime M ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will undertake an official visit to France, the European Union (EU), and Belgium from June 8 to 14, 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs announced in a press release on Sunday. The visit marks a significant step in further strengthening India's strategic partnerships with Europe. The EAM will first travel to Paris and Marseille, France, where he will hold bilateral discussions with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Jean Noel Barrot. Also Read | Indian Citizen Dies in UAE: Civil Engineer Issac Paul ...Read More >
Ludhiana, Jun 8 (PTI) Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Sunday asserted that his party will win the Ludhiana West assembly bypoll, scheduled to be held on june 19, with a "record margin". "Congress practically has no competition here", he claimed. Warring, who is also the Ludhiana MP, said that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was badly mistaken that the Congress would allow it to abuse power and misuse the official machinery for the elections. "First of all, we will not let any misuse of the official machinery and second, in case any official is found to be misusing ...Read More >
Sivakarthikeyan's Amaran has emerged as his biggest box-office success to date, surpassing the Rs 300-crore mark at the worldwide box office collection.Shiv Karthikeyan and Sai Pallavi marked a milestone in film industry through the movie Amaran. The film joins an elite club as the ninth Tamil movie to achieve this milestone, following hits like Rajinikanth's Enthiran, Kabali, 2.0, Jailer, along with Biigilmovie, Varisu, Leo, and The GOAT. Featuring Sivakarthikeyan as Major Mukund Varadarajan, alongside Sai Pallavi, Bhuvan Arora, and Rahul Bose, Amaran draws inspiration from true military st ...Read More >
New Delhi: In a daring move, following the language feud in Bengaluru, a tech founder, Kaushik Mukherjee, posted on X that he has decided to wind up his office in Bangalore and will be moving to Pune soon, with the reason stated as "language nonsense" by the founder. This decision comes amid growing tensions between Kannada speaking and non-Kannada speaking people in the state of Karnataka. Kaushik claims he does not want his non-Kannada speaking staff to be the next 'victim' and the idea, as he stated, was proposed by the staff and that he has decided to accept the idea. His post has garnere ...Read More >
Bengaluru, June 3: Actor Kamal Haasan on Tuesday said his recent statement at the 'Thug Life' audio launch event in connection with the evolution of Kannada language was misunderstood and that his words were taken out of context. The acclaimed actor, writing to Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), acknowledged the film body's concern and said: "It pains me that my statement at the Thug Life audio launch, spoken out of genuine affection for the legendary Dr Rajkumar's family, especially Shiva Rajkumar has been misunderstood and taken out of context." Karnataka HC to Kamal Haasan Over Kann ...Read More >
Chennai, June 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Well known actress Meera Jasmine, whose outstanding performances have helped her make a name for herself in both the Tamil and Malayalam industries,on Saturday offered prayers for the family of actor Shine Tom Chacko, whose father Sibi Chacko died in a tragic car accident in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu on Friday. Taking to her Instagram stories section, the actress, who posted a family picture of actor Shine Tom Chacko, wrote, "Prayers for the grieving family. Times like these constantly remind us about how important kindness is... Grief is a very real t ...Read More >
Tirupathur (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 27 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Centre and the BJP-AIADMK alliance, accusing them of attempting to divide the people of the state along the lines of religious and caste. Speaking to mediapersons in Tirupathur district, CM Stalin alleged that BJP, which has aligned with AIADMK, was engaging in 'fake spirituality and political drama' to create division in the state. 'Those in the Centre are trying to divide the people of Tamil Nadu in the name of religion, caste, etc., and they are doing this continuous ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Kamal Haasan has added yet another feather to his already illustrious cap. The screen icon known for redefining Indian cinema with pathbreaking performances is now officially a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Haasan becomes only the second Indian actor ever to receive an invitation from the Academy. The first? Tamil star Suriya, who was inducted in 2022. But Haasan isn't the only Indian in the Academy's Class of 2025. This year, the Academy has inducted 534 global talents and it is the largest batch since 2020. Kamal aside, over a dozen Indians across ca ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The four-member expert committee, formed by the Telangana government to investigate the alleged kidney racket at Alaknanda Hospital here, has put a plastic surgeon also under the scanner. The panel is currently questioning a large group of people, including kidney donors, recipients, and doctors, to unearth the details behind the racket. Officials said a comprehensive report will be submitted to the Director of Medical Education (DME) today. DME's Statement Speaking about the probe, the DME Dr. N. Vani claimed that there were several instances where donors, including widows, wer ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The recently released Tamil film Thug Life, starring veteran actor Kamal Haasan, has been facing controversy in Karnataka due to comments made by the actor. At the audio launch of Thug Life, Kamal Haasan said, "Kannada was born from Tamil." This statement sparked widespread outrage among Kannada-speaking communities. If all had gone as planned, Thug Life was scheduled to release in Karnataka by now. However, due to the actor's refusal to apologise, the film has not seen a release in the state. The matter is now pending in court, and a final decision regarding its release in Karnata ...Read More >
CHENNAI: Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko's father died on the spot after the family met with a car accident near Dharmapuri on Friday morning. According to media reports, the actor, his mother, and brother were also in the car. Around 7 am, near Palakottai, their vehicle rammed into a lorry in front of them. All five occupants, including the driver, sustained injuries in the accident. Shine's father, CP Chacko, succumbed to his injuries and died on the spot, while the other family members were admitted to a nearby hospital. Further details on the incident are awaited. Shine is also known t ...Read More >
VIJAYAWADA: The State government on Friday accorded approvals to a slew of industries. Among those are Krishnapatnam Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), which is set to establish a 350 MW Solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Thamminapatnam and Mommidi villages of SPSR Nellore district with a Rs 1,225 crore investment, creating 575 jobs. Furthermore, the government also waived off a Rs 54 crore extension of time fee, contingent on project completion within two years as per the Andhra Pradesh Integrated Clean Energy Policy-2024. The government also allocated 22.80 acres at MPSEZ in N ...Read More >
The shooting of the Telugu film 'The Paradise' began on June 21Actor Nani joined the Hyderabad set on SaturdayA 40-day shooting schedule is underway featuring lead cast The shooting of Telugu actor Nani and director Srikanth Odela's The Paradise' commenced on June 21. The actor joined the team on Saturday in Hyderabad. The makers of 'The Paradise' announced the latest development with a photo of the actor from the movie sets. 'The Paradise' has been making headlines ever since it was announced. ...Read More >
New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday announced a significant update in its approach to conducting the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for both undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) students for the year 2025. The UGC has invited public feedback on the revised methodology aiming to refine the examination process for a better and more efficient testing environment for candidates. Since its inception in 1956 under the UGC Act, UGC has been pivotal in setting and maintaining the standards for higher education, coordinating with universities, and providing fina ...Read More >
New Delhi: Ahead of Kalki 2898 AD's grand Japan release on January 3, 2025, director Nag Ashwin shared heartfelt gratitude for the immense love from Japanese fans. With overwhelming responses pouring in, excitement for the film's international debut is soaring. Nag Ashwin took to Instagram story section and shared a deeply moving post, featuring a picture of letters from Japanese fans, some of whom went the extra mile to write in Telugu script. Along with the image, he shared an emotional caption, that reads, "V rarely get overwhelmed... but Japanese love is like that. Diff level. They learn ...Read More >
He defended his choice of Viduthalai Part 2, stating that storytelling is about reflecting people's lives Actor Vijay Sethupathi, while promoting his upcoming movie Viduthalai Part 2 in Hyderabad, shared his thoughts on the box-office performance of Thalapathy Vijay's GOAT and Suriya-starrer Kanguva in the Telugu-speaking states. In an interview with The Great Andhra, Sethupathi was asked about the setbacks faced by recent Tamil Pan-India films, particularly at the Telugu box office. However, h ...Read More >
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New Delhi: One of the most-talked about movies -Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan in the lead opened in theatres on June 5, 2025. The Mani Ratnam directorial got a good opening of Rs 17 crore but failed to beat the Day 1 collection of Kamal Haasan's previous films including 'Indian 2' and 'Vikram'. According to Box Office number tracking website Sacnilk, 'Thug Life' earned Rs 17 crore nett (Gross minus taxes) at the domestic box office on its first day in theatres, despite facing ban in Karnataka. Kamal Haasan's previous film, 'Indian 2' with director Shankar, collected Rs 25.6 crore nett on ...Read More >
Thug Life box office collection Day 3: Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam's latest collaboration Thug Life is struggling at the box office. After a drop of 53.87% in collections from Day 1 to Day 2, the gangster drama earned Rs 7.14 crore on Day 3 of its release, according to trade tracker Sacnik. On Saturday, Thug Life earned Rs 6.38 crore from the Tamil version, while the Hindi and Telugu versions brought in Rs 0.24 crore and Rs 0.52 crore, respectively. By the end of Day 3, the film's total box off ...Read More >
New Delhi: The pan-India mythological drama 'Kannappa', starring Vishnu Manchu and featuring cameos by Akshay Kumar, Mohanlal, Prabhas, and Kajal Aggarwal, hit cinemas on June 27, 2025. Despite its star-studded cast and grand production, the film has seen a slow start at the box office. According to early estimates from Sacnilk, 'Kannappa' earned ₹9 crore net in India on its first day of release. Although this marks Vishnu Manchu's biggest opener, it falls short of expectations considering the film's massive budget of ₹200 crore and the presence of big-name stars. The film saw varying occupa ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 29 (UNI) Actor Nani has officially commenced shooting for his upcoming film "The Paradise", directed by "Dasara" fame filmmaker Srikanth Odela. This is the second collaboration between the duo. Principal photography commenced recently in Hyderabad, where the team has embarked on an intensive 40-day schedule, capturing crucial sequences featuring the film's principal cast. To celebrate the launch, the makers shared an on-set with the caption: "Dhagad joins the Paradise. In cinemas 26-03-2026." Odela is crafting the film with great precision. The movie is being produced by Sudhaka ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Telugu superstar Allu Arjun on Thursday said the humongous success of his latest release "Pushpa 2: The Rule" is a reflection of people's love and he hopes the box office record of the film, which has become the fastest movie to earn Rs 1,000 crore, is broken soon by another movie. A sequel to Arjun's 2021 Telugu blockbuster "Pushpa: The Rise", the film released on December 5 with dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam, and has emerged as one of the biggest hits of 2024. Also Read | RSIFF 2024: Nick Jonas Reveals Being Fascinated by Priyanka ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 3 (ANI): Monday kick-started on an exciting note for the fans of actor Prabhas as his first look as 'Rudra' was unveiled in the morning. The poster features him in the guise of a hermit, his matted hair flowing wildly, his forehead smeared with sacred chandan, gripping a crescent moon staff that hints at divine power and celestial energy. Sharing his look from the film, Prabhas on social media wrote, " (Om symbol) The Divine Guardian 'Rudra' (Om symbol) Unveiling my look as 'Rudra'. The embodiment of strength and wisdom as the unwavering protector in #K ...Read More >
New Delhi: There was a surge of nostalgia among fans when Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan finally reunited on film after 33 years in 'Vettaiyan'. The film's most famous sequence was the fierce confrontation between Rajinikanth, who played a courageous police officer, and Amitabh Bachchan, who played a justice-seeking lawyer. But one actor who was there at the scene's actual location had an interesting takeaway. The veteran actor Alencier Leyons discussed his time on the set of 'Vettaiyan' with the media while promoting his Malayalam flick 'Narayaneente Moonnaanmakkal'. Alencier said that he ...Read More >
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 29 (ANI): Tamil veteran actor Rajesh passed away at the age of 75 years on Thursday morning. As per his relatives, the actor passed away on the way to Madras Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (MIOT) hospital after he suddenly experienced difficulty in breathing. Also Read | 'Sister Midnight' Censored in India: CBFC Blurs Nudity From Radhika Apte's Dark Comedy - View Full List of Cuts. Rajesh has worked in over 100 films in his entire acting career. He started his acting journey with a superhit film, 'Aval Oru Thodar Kathai', which also starred Kama ...Read More >