The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of the controversy surrounding the release of Kamal Haasan's Tamil film, "Thug Life," in Karnataka, issuing a notice to the state government seeking its response to a petition challenging the de facto ban on the film. The petition, filed by a Bengaluru resident, M. Mahesh Reddy, alleges that the film is facing an "extra-judicial ban" due to threats from fringe organizations and the inaction of state authorities, violating constitutional rights. The case is scheduled to be heard next Tuesday.
A vacation bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan heard the plea on Friday, with Reddy's advocate, A. Velan, arguing that the state had "capitulated" to extremist elements calling for violence against linguistic minorities and threatening to set fire to theaters. Velan contended that no FIR had been registered, and no action had been taken against those issuing threats. The court acknowledged the submission that "Thug Life," duly certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), was not being allowed to be screened in Karnataka theaters due to these threats.
The petitioner seeks the court to declare the ban on the movie as illegal, unconstitutional, and violating Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 19(1)(g), and 21 of the Constitution. The petition argues that the ban stems from a deliberate campaign of terror and incitement to large-scale communal violence targeting linguistic minorities, with explicit threats of arson against cinema halls.
The controversy arose after Kamal Haasan allegedly made remarks stating that "Kannada was born out of Tamil," sparking backlash and calls for a boycott of his film in Karnataka. Following this, the President of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), T. A. Narayana Gowda, allegedly threatened to "set theatres on fire" if any Haasan film was released in the state after Victory Cinema in Bengaluru announced its intention to screen the film. The plea also highlights social media posts calling for a repeat of the 1991 anti-Tamil riots.
The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) reportedly declared a "ban" on the film under pressure from various groups and sought an apology from Kamal Haasan. While Haasan responded by expressing pain that his statement was misunderstood and affirming his deep respect for the Kannada language, the KFCC has maintained its stance.
The petitioner's counsel had previously sought an urgent listing of the matter, emphasizing the "law and order situation in the State of Karnataka." They stated that "fringe elements and organizations are giving open threat to set the theatres on fire if they display a Tamil movie" and sought protection for cinemas and theaters. The Supreme Court initially declined to grant an urgent hearing to a theatre association seeking protection, advising them to approach the Karnataka High Court instead.
The High Court reportedly focused on whether Kamal Haasan should apologize for his remarks concerning the Kannada language instead of issuing a clear directive to the state to stop the threats and protect the film's exhibition. With Kamal Haasan refusing to apologize, the film was not released in Karnataka, even though it was released in other parts of the country on June 5, 2025.
The Supreme Court's intervention comes as a significant development in the ongoing dispute, raising questions about freedom of expression, the role of state governments in maintaining law and order, and the impact of fringe elements on cultural expression. The court has scheduled the case for further hearing next Tuesday, where the Karnataka government will be expected to present its response to the allegations.
