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'Can't Allow Mobs To Take Over; State Must Ensure Film Release' : Supreme Court To Karnataka Govt On 'Thug Life' Ban
Gursimran Kaur Bakshi
17 Jun 2025 12:10 PM IST
Rule of law demands that any film which has a CBFC certificate must be released and the State has to ensure its screening, the Court said.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday (June 17) expressed concerns over the "extra-judicial ban" on the screening of Tamil feature film Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan and directed by Mani Ratnam, in Karnataka.A bench comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Manmohan was hearing a PIL filed by one Mahesh Reddy seeking directions to allow the screening of 'Thug Life', which was not released...
The Supreme Court on Tuesday (June 17) expressed concerns over the "extra-judicial ban" on the screening of Tamil feature film Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan and directed by Mani Ratnam, in Karnataka.
A bench comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Manmohan was hearing a PIL filed by one Mahesh Reddy seeking directions to allow the screening of 'Thug Life', which was not released in Karnataka after certain groups issued threats against its exhibition following the remarks of Kamal Haasan, the lead actor and one of the producers of the film, that Kannada was born out of Tamil.
As soon as the matter was taken, Justice Bhuyan orally expressed concerns about the situation.
"We can't allow mobs and vigilante groups to take over the streets. The rule of law must prevail. We can't allow this to happen. If somebody has made a statement, counter it with a statement. Somebody has made some writing, counter it with some writing. This is proxy..." Justice Bhuyan orally told the counsel representing the State of Karnataka. The petitioner's counsel pointed out that the State has not filed any complaint against the persons who issued threats.
The bench asked the State to file its counter by tomorrow and said that the matter will be heard on Thursday. When the State's counsel said that the film's producer has already approached the High Court, the bench said that it will order the transfer of that matter to the Supreme Court.
"Rule of law demands that any film which has a CBFC certificate must be released and the State has to ensure its screening. It can't be that at the fear of burning down the cinemas, that the film can't be shown. People may not watch the film. That is a different matter. We are not passing any order that people must watch the film. But the film must be released," Justice Manmohan added.
"Rule of law is important. State has to ensure that anyone who wants to show a film, that film must be released after it has got a CBFC certificate," Justice Manmohan asserted.
When the State's counsel said that Kamal Haasan chose not to release the film in the State till he resolved the issue with the Karnataka Film Chamber, Justice Bhuyan expressed disapproval of the Karnataka High Court asking Kamal Haasan to apologise for his remarks. "It is none of the business of the High Court," Justice Bhuyan said.
"This is concerning the rule of law and fundamental rights. Therefore, this Court is intervening. That is what the Supreme Court is meant for to be a custodian of the rule of law and fundamental rights. It is not just about a film," Justice Manmohan said.
The bench ordered the transfer of the petition in the Karnataka High Court to the Supreme Court. The matter will be heard on June 19.
During the hearing, Justice Bhuyan referred to the recent judgment in the Imran Pratapgarhi case, which recorded with approval a judgment of the Bombay High Court which set aside the ban on the play "Me Nathuram Godse Boltoy". "There were critical references to the Father of the Nation. There was hue and cry. And Maharashtra Government banned the play. The High Court set aside saying, he may be revered as the Father of the Nation. But you can't stop a different view. That is the freedom of speech," Justice Bhuyan said.
When the State's counsel again pointed out that the film's producer himself deferred the release to negotiate with the State's film bodies, Justice Manmohan asked if the law can be dependent on the statement of one person.
"There is something wrong in the system, that one person makes a system..let there be a debate on the issue. Let people say he is wrong," Justice Manmohan said.
"All the enlightened people of Bangalore can issue a statement that he is wrong. Why should there be a resort to threats?" Justice Bhuyan said.
On June 13, a notice was issued to the State of Karnataka in the PIL by a bench comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Manmohan.
On the previous hearing date, the counsel for the petitioner, AoR A Velan, submitted that the State of Karnataka has completed "capitulated" to extremist elements who were attacking linguistic minorities and calling for the burning of theatres.
"It is argued that a duly CBFC-certified Tamil feature film "Thug Life" is not allowed to be screened in the theatres in the State of Karnataka. The so-called ban under threat of violence stems not from any lawful process but from a deliberate campaign of terror, including explicit threat of arson against cinema halls, incitement of large-scale violence targeting linguistic minorities. Considering the urgency shown and the issue brought before this court, we issue notice to the respondent," the bench observed in the order.
On June 9, while mentioning the matter for urgent listing, Advocate Navpreet Kaur, the petitioner's counsel, submitted that the matter concerned the "law and order situation in the State of Karnataka."
"Fringe elements and organisations are giving open threat to set the theatres on fire if they display a Tamil movie. In fact, such is the intensity of the threats...we are here seeking protection for cinemas and theatres," the counsel submitted.
The film was released on June 5, 2025, worldwide except in the State of Karnataka.
Reportedly, these protests are made against the backdrop of the alleged remarks made by Kamal Haasan on the Kannada language, wherein he said that Kannada was "born out of Tamil".
The Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce (KFCC) has reportedly announced that they have decided to ban the movie in Karnataka. It is reportedly stated that KFCC also sought an apology from Kamal Haasan, and he had responded expressing pain that his statement was misunderstood and that he deeply respects the Kannada language.
The petition points out that in anticipation of the movie's release, Victory Cinema, located in Kamakshipalya, Bengaluru, made a series of public announcements on Twitter for promoting the Tamil version of the movie with English subtitles. However, on the same day, a news report published by TV9 Kannada quoted one Mr. T.A. Narayana Gowda, President of pro-Kannada organisation Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, calling for a direct and unequivocal threat of extreme violence. He said, as mentioned in the petition, "we will set theatres on fire if any Kamal Haasan film is released".
The petition seeks an ad-interim ex-parte order directing the State of Karnataka and other authorities to provide adequate and effective police protection to all cinema theatres and multiplexes in Karnataka that are willing to screen the movie. It has also sought FIRs against those persons who threatened and incited violence.
The petition also seeks an ad-interim ex-parte order restraining KFCC, its office bearers and other organisations from issuing statements or taking any actions that directly or indirectly obstruct or call for a ban.
The producer of the film approached the High Court of Karnataka seeking police protection for the film's release. However, the High Court refused to grant relief, and instead discussed whether Kamal Haasan ought to render an apology for his alleged remarks concerning the Kannada language. Since Kamal Haasan refused to apologise, the film was not released in Tamil Nadu.
"The film 'Thug Life' is scheduled for nationwide release on June 05, 2025. However, due to the unabated threats of violence, intimidation, and the de facto ban imposed by non-state actors with the acquiescence/failure of the State machinery to provide protection, the film cannot be released in Karnataka. The fundamental rights of the filmmakers, exhibitors, and the viewing public remain severely curtailed. Hence, the present Writ Petition," the petition filed in the Supreme Court states.
The petition has been filed through Advocate-on-Record A Velan.
Case Details: SRI M MAHESH REDDY v. STATE OF KARNATAKA & ORS | W.P.(C) No. 575/2025
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