In a strong stand for artistic freedom, the Supreme Court on Tuesday stepped in to protect Kamal Haasan’s Tamil film Thug Life, which faces a ban in Karnataka over alleged controversial remarks by the actor.
The top court, while issuing a notice in the case, made it clear that the rule of law cannot be hijacked by mob pressure.
"Groups of hooligans cannot be permitted to dictate what the public can or cannot watch in theatres," the bench headed by Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said, sending a stern message that intimidation and street-level censorship have no place in a democracy.
“If you disagree with someone’s statement, respond with words, not violence. You cannot threaten to burn down theatres,” the bench firmly observed.
“If the people of Karnataka or Bengaluru feel his statement was inappropriate, they can express their disagreement. But why resort to threats of burning down cinemas?” the bench asked, reminding all that fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, must be upheld.
The Court also transferred the film producer’s petition from the Karnataka High Court to itself and directed the state government to respond. Taking a critical view of the High Court’s handling, the bench questioned why it appeared to nudge the actor towards an apology.
“There’s something seriously amiss when one person’s statement sparks such upheaval. Why should the High Court be telling someone to apologise? That’s simply not its job,” the Court remarked, calling for maturity from institutions as well as the public.
Supreme Court firmly reminded that once a film has been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), it has every right to be released. “People are free to skip it if they don’t agree with its content. But threats and intimidation cannot be allowed to dictate whether a film sees the light of day,” the bench said, reinforcing the right to free expression.
Quoting landmark rulings including the Bombay High Court’s judgment in the 'Mi Nathuram Boltoy' case and the verdict in poet-politician Imran Pratapgarhi’s matter, the court stressed that differing voices are not only inevitable in a democracy, but essential.
“We are the custodians of the rule of law,” the Court declared. “That is what the Supreme Court is here for — to ensure rights are not trampled by outrage or fear.”
The bench 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, who is also one of the producers of the film, that Kannada was born out of Tamil.
The Supreme Court gave the Karnataka government a day to apprise it about the release of the movie in the state.
Kamal Haasan’s Tamil film, which marks his reunion with director Mani Ratnam after nearly four decades since Nayakan (1987), has hit a roadblock in Karnataka. The controversy stems from a recent remark the 70-year-old actor allegedly made about the Kannada language during a promotional event in Chennai.
The comment triggered strong reactions across Karnataka, leading to protests and calls for a boycott. In response, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) declared that the movie would not be screened in the state unless Haasan issued a public apology.
