SC Clears Kamal Haasan's Thug Life for Karnataka Release Despite Protests

Kamal Haasan’s upcoming film Thug Life has been granted significant relief by the Supreme Court of India, which directed that the movie must be released in Karnataka despite the surrounding controversy. The court strongly condemned threats of violence, stating that such intimidation cannot overrule the law of the land.The bench made it clear that no organization or group has the right to decide what should or shouldn’t be shown in cinemas, especially when a film has already been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). It further stressed that constitutional rights like freedom of speech and the legitimacy of certified films must be upheld and protected.

The controversy stems from remarks made by Kamal Haasan during the film’s audio launch, where he stated that the Kannada language originated from Tamil. His comments sparked outrage in Karnataka, with some groups demanding an apology and threatening to disrupt the film’s release. The Supreme Court criticized these threats, stating:

“If individuals feel that Kamal Haasan’s remarks are incorrect, they are free to express their disagreement through a counter statement,” the Supreme Court observed. But threatening to burn down theatres is unacceptable."The court also took over the petition originally filed in the Karnataka High Court and questioned the High Court's order suggesting an apology. The Karnataka government has been asked to respond to the matter.Directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Kamal Haasan, Thug Life has now been given the green light for release in Karnataka, upholding the principle that censorship and distribution should not be dictated by mob pressure.