'Mob Can't Decide': Supreme Court Slams Karnataka High Court For Kamal Haasan's Thug Life Ban

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Last Updated:June 17, 2025, 13:54 IST

Thug Life Ban In Karnataka: The top court criticised the groups that have threatened to stall the film's release over the Kamal Haasan's controversial remarks.

Thug Life Ban In Karnataka: The Supreme Court on Tuesday slammed the Karnataka High Court and issued a notice in the case concerning the ban on the release of Kamal Haasan’s Tamil film Thug Life in the state. The top court criticised the groups that have threatened to stall the film’s release over the actor’s controversial remarks in which he claimed that “Kannada was born from Tamil".

A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan said rule of law has to be established and guns cannot be put to people’s heads to stop them from watching the movie. The court also pointed out that “groups of hooligans" cannot be allowed to decide what gets screened in theatres.

“If someone has made a statement, you counter it with another statement. You cannot threaten to burn down theatres," the bench remarked.

In addition to this, the apex court gave one day’s time to the Karnataka government to apprise it about the release of the movie in the state, saying once a film has got the Central Board of Film Certification clearance, it has to be released in all the states.

Highlighting the controversy regarding the actor’s remarks, the bench said that if Haasan has said anything inconvenient, it cannot be taken as a gospel truth and the enlightened people of Karnataka should have debated and said he was wrong.

The top court was also critical of the high court’s recent observations seeking an apology over Haasan’s remark over Kannada language, and said it has no business to seek an apology.

The matter is scheduled for further hearing on Thursday.

Notably, Kamal Haasan’s “Thug Life", directed by Mani Ratnam, was released in cinema halls across the country on June 5.

The Tamil movie, which reunites Haasan with filmmaker Mani Ratnam after 1987’s “Nayakan", could not be released in Karnataka after the 70-year-old’s comments about Kannada language sparked a major controversy.

Mahima Joshi

Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a...Read More

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