- Tuesday, April 22, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Veteran actor Kamal Haasan has once again found himself at the center of an online debate, this time over a light-hearted joke he made involving actress Trisha Krishnan during a promotional event for their upcoming film Thug Life. While some netizens criticized the moment, a larger section of the internet has come to Kamal’s defense, calling the joke harmless and a classic example of Tamil wordplay.
The controversy stems from a press event where Trisha was asked about her favorite dish. She responded, “I like eating them all, but I like boiled banana more. What’s it called?” She was referring to pazham pori, a popular banana fritter dish in South India.
Kamal Haasan quickly chimed in, saying, “She doesn’t know the name but likes putting it in her mouth,” followed by a playful pat on Trisha’s knee. Trisha burst out laughing, indicating she took it in jest. However, a clip of the exchange went viral on X (formerly Twitter), triggering mixed reactions.
Imagine the outrage if any Telugu senior hero passed the same comment. Disgusting!! pic.twitter.com/d7xhtYesMu
— Aakashavaani (@TheAakashavaani) April 21, 2025
Critics online accused Kamal Haasan of using innuendo, with some calling the joke distasteful. One user wrote, “All the senses have gone to the air I think! Worst.” Another added, “Why do people always go for double meanings?” However, fans and many Tamil speakers dismissed the backlash, insisting that the comment was made in a humorous spirit and lacked any vulgar intent.
“This is a very jovial dialogue used in many Tamil households, often by parents. Nothing disgusting here,” a user commented. Another chimed in, “There is nothing double meaning here… Trisha forgot the dish name and Kamal responded in jest. It’s just wordplay.”
Some fans also highlighted that outrage only grew after people read others’ negative interpretations. “I am Tamil and not a Kamal fan, but I didn’t find this offensive at all. Everyone only found it inappropriate after reading the comments,” read another defense post.
The conversation around the clip highlights the growing cultural gap in interpreting humor, especially across languages and regions. Supporters argue that traditional Tamil humor often includes light teasing and that the online reaction misinterprets the context.
This debate comes at a time when Kamal Haasan is enjoying a major comeback with Thug Life, directed by legendary filmmaker Mani Ratnam. The film marks their reunion nearly four decades after their cult classic Nayakan (1987). Thug Life also stars Silambarasan, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, Abhirami, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf, and Vaiyapuri.
The much-anticipated action drama is set to hit theaters on June 5, 2025, and fans are eagerly awaiting the collaboration between Kamal and Mani Ratnam. As for the viral moment, it seems the internet has largely sided with the veteran actor, urging people to see the joke as a moment of light banter rather than a controversy.
