Supreme Court Challenges Karnataka's Ban on Kamal Haasan's 'Thug Life': A Stand for Cinematic Freedom

Supreme Court's Strong Stance on Film Release

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has expressed strong disapproval of the Karnataka government's decision to prevent the release of actor Kamal Haasan's film 'Thug Life', emphasizing that mob rule and vigilantism should not dictate public access to cinema.

Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan underscored the necessity of upholding the rule of law, stating that coercion should not be used to restrict audiences from viewing films.

The court has given the Karnataka government a deadline of one day to report on the film's release status, asserting that once a film receives clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification, it must be made available nationwide.

The bench remarked that if Haasan's comments were deemed controversial, they should be debated rather than treated as absolute truth, encouraging the educated populace of Karnataka to engage in discourse.

Additionally, the Supreme Court criticized the high court's recent demand for an apology from Haasan regarding his comments on the Kannada language, stating that such requests are beyond its jurisdiction.

The case concerning the film, which was previously pending in the high court, has now been transferred to the Supreme Court, with further hearings scheduled for Thursday.

'Thug Life' was released in theaters across India on June 5.

This Tamil film marks a reunion between Haasan and director Mani Ratnam, who last collaborated on the 1987 classic 'Nayakan'. However, the film's release in Karnataka was halted following backlash from Haasan's remarks about the Kannada language.

The Supreme Court was addressing a petition from M Mahesh Reddy, who challenged the film's non-release in Karnataka.

The high court had previously condemned Haasan's assertion that 'Kannada originated from Tamil', suggesting that a simple apology could have defused the situation.

Haasan's comments, made during a promotional event in Chennai, ignited significant controversy in Karnataka, leading the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) to declare that the film would not be shown in the state unless Haasan issued an apology.