Kamal Haasan caught in Kannada row grieves RCB stampede victims ahead of 'Thug Life' release

In an emotional post on social media, actor Kamal Haasan expressed his sorrow over the tragic stampede that took place outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday. The incident, which occurred during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) victory celebrations, claimed the lives of 11 people and left over 40 injured. While the celebrations marked a historic moment for RCB as they lifted their maiden IPL title after 18 years, the tragedy cast a dark shadow over the triumph.

“Heart wrenching tragedy in Bangalore. Deeply distressed and my heart reaches out to the families of the victims in this moment of grief. May the injured recover soon,” Kamal wrote on X.

However, Kamal’s message comes at a time when he is facing widespread backlash in Karnataka for his recent remarks about the Kannada language. During promotions for his upcoming film Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, the veteran actor had controversially claimed that “Kannada was born out of Tamil.” The comment sparked outrage among Kannada-speaking audiences and political leaders alike. The Karnataka High Court also pulled up the actor, questioning his silence on the matter and the lack of an apology.

As tensions continue to rise, the situation took a more sensitive turn with Kamal’s public condolence message. While some appreciated his empathy toward the stampede victims, others were quick to question the timing of his statement, interpreting it as damage control ahead of Thug Life’s release. The film has reportedly been barred from releasing in Karnataka as of now.

The unfortunate incident occurred just before RCB’s celebratory event at their home ground. The players, including Virat Kohli and captain Rajat Patidar, made brief appearances to address a packed crowd and showcase the IPL 2025 trophy. However, the tragedy outside the venue led to the abrupt shortening of the program.

Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life is slated to hit theatres tomorrow nationwide, but the growing controversy and current sentiment in Karnataka might impact its regional performance. As the nation celebrates RCB’s long-awaited victory, the dual blow of tragedy and controversy lingers.