The Supreme Court on Thursday closed the PIL challenging the unofficial ban on the screening of the Tamil feature film after the Karnataka government said that they were ready to facilitate the release of Kamal Haasan-starrer Thug Life in the state.
On groups seeking Haasan’s apology over his comment on the Kannada language, the top court said it was not required, adding that it was disappointing to see artistic creations being blocked by protestors claiming their sentiments were hurt over something.
“We cannot allow this to happen. Just because of an opinion, should a movie be stopped? A stand-up comedy should be stopped? Recital of a poem should be stopped?” the Live Law reported the bench as saying.
The Karnataka government said to the Supreme Court that security will be provided if Kamal Haasan’s movie is released in the state. The state government also said that action will be taken against divisive elements if any threat is issued against the screening of the movie, PTI reported.
This came after the Supreme Court expressed dismay over an unofficial ban on the movie ‘Thug Life’ due to Kamal Haasan’s remark on the Kannada language. The top court asserted that a Film with CBFC clearance has to be released in every state, adding that it cannot allow mobs and vigilantes to take over the streets.
Protests erupted across Karnataka after actor Kamal Haasan hailed the Tamil language and said Kannada was also born out of this language during an event. Pro-Kannada groups sought Haasan’s apology, threatening to ban his movie in the state. Many of them even tore up the posters of his movie in Bengaluru.
Even as the Supreme Court paved the way for Thug Life’s release in Karnataka, the film’s distributor said there was no point in releasing the movie as it had been released across India two weeks ago.
