Supreme Court Orders Karnataka to Allow Screening of Kamal Haasan's Thug Life

Supreme Court Intervenes in Thug Life Controversy

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court instructed the Karnataka government to facilitate the release of the film Thug Life, featuring renowned Tamil actor Kamal Haasan and directed by Mani Ratnam. The court raised significant concerns regarding what it termed an 'extra-judicial ban' on the film's exhibition.

A bench comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Manmohan highlighted that once a film receives certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), it is the state's responsibility to ensure its public release.

The court asserted that the rule of law should not be compromised by mob intimidation, cautioning that 'groups of hooligans' should not dictate what films are shown in cinemas.

“If someone makes a statement, respond with another statement. You cannot resort to threats of violence against theatres,” the bench stated.

Kamal Haasan's Thug Life became controversial following its audio launch in Chennai, where he paid an emotional homage to his Tamil heritage, stating, 'Uyire Urave Tamizhe,' which translates to 'My life and my family is Tamil.' He also acknowledged Kannada superstar Shivarajkumar, emphasizing the connection between their languages.

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) subsequently imposed a ban on the film's release in the state unless Haasan issued an apology. Industry analysts predict that the gangster thriller could incur losses ranging from Rs 35–40 crore in gross box office revenue and Rs 12–15 crore in distributor shares due to the ban in Karnataka, as reported by a local media outlet.

The film features a star-studded cast, including Trisha, Silambarasan, Abhirami, Sanya Malhotra, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Rohit Saraf, and Vaiyapuri.