From Kamal-Trisha dating to language faux pas, Thug Life keeps stirring the plot
The language row stirred by Kamal's remarks on Kannada is not the only controversy to hit 'Thug Life'. Earlier, social media slammed Kamal for romancing Trisha
Kamal Haasan’s Kannada language row is not the only controversy to hit Mani Ratnam’s upcoming gangster drama, Thug Life. Fans are eagerly waiting for this film, which will bring together the ‘Nayakan’ director-actor duo, Ratnam and Kamal after a gap of nearly three decades.
After the teaser of Thug Life was released, scenes showing Kamal kissing the much-younger actress Abhirami, 41, and romancing Trisha, 42, were slammed on social media. Many internet users questioned how the 70-year-old superstar was romancing actors much younger than him. There is a 28-year age gap between Kamal and Trisha.
However, in interviews with the media, director Mani Ratnam defended Kamal’s pairing with Trisha and Abhirami.
Fact of life
According to Mani Ratnam, relationships between men and women with significant age gaps happen all the time in real life. It is quite common in real life, he said, pointing out that people seem to have a problem with it only when it appears in cinema.
Also read: As Kannada row escalates, Kamal finds some political support in TN
“It is a fact of life. It's been like that for a long time. It's not just now. When it appears in cinema, we try to find fault with it or pass judgment on it and insist that it should only be one way. This means you are trying to cover or close your eyes to what is happening in your society and claim that it should be only this way," Mani told Mid-Day.
People are ignoring what’s happening in society, he said, adding that ‘relationships’ should not be judged differently on screen.
Not Trisha and Kamal
Mani, who is famous for his memorable love stories, also urged the audience to see Kamal and Trisha as characters in Thug Life and not as Kamal and Trisha.
Further, the director explained that it is (about) how these two people meet. "It is not Trisha Krishnan and Kamal Haasan. It is (about) their respective characters. So that is what it should be. And if you see the film, the relationship, how it formed and whether it is real or not, then you can make a judgment, not based on Trisha Krishnan and Kamal Haasan," Mani said, according to reports. The film also stars actor Simbhu.
English lyrics in 'Sugar Baby'
Besides this age group criticism, there was also a row kicked up over the song ‘Sugar Baby’ featuring Trisha since it had English lyrics. Mani Ratnam was severely mocked on social media for trying desperately to sound Gen Z.
This dispute was triggered by filmmaker Anurag Kashyap who complained that there is an increasing use of English lyrics in Tamil songs. He felt this trend in Tamil cinema didn’t “make sense at all”.
Also read: If Kamal Haasan doesn't apologise, Thug Life will be banned in Karnataka: KFCC
However, the ace director also downplayed it, saying that the number felt "right" and he used it.
Thug Life's soundtrack has been composed by Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman. Produced by Raaj Kamal Films International, Madras Talkies and Red Giant Movies, the gangster drama is scheduled to release in theatres on June 5.