New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday delivered a strong rebuke to the Karnataka government over the non-release of actor Kamal Haasan’s film Thug Life in the state, asserting that mob rule cannot override the law. The court directed the state to clarify its position within a day, underscoring that once a film receives Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) clearance, it must be allowed to screen across all states.
A bench comprising Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan criticised the atmosphere of intimidation surrounding the film, which was withheld from release in Karnataka following Haasan’s controversial remark on the Kannada language. “You can’t put guns to people’s heads and stop them from watching a movie,” the court observed, emphasizing the importance of rule of law and free expression.
The Tamil-language film, directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Haasan, was released nationwide on June 5, but faced a blockade in Karnataka. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) had refused to allow its screening unless Haasan apologized for his comments, made during a promotional event, suggesting that “Kannada was born out of Tamil.” The remarks triggered widespread backlash in the state.
The Supreme Court also took exception to the Karnataka High Court’s stance, which had urged Haasan to issue an apology, saying that courts had no business demanding apologies in such matters. “If Kamal Haasan said something wrong, let the people debate it. That is how a democracy functions,” the bench said.
The case, which was originally being heard in the Karnataka High Court, has now been transferred to the apex court. A plea filed by petitioner M Mahesh Reddy challenged the film’s non-release in the state, arguing it violated fundamental rights.
The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for Thursday.
