NEW DELHI/BENGALURU, 13 JUNE 

The Supreme Court of India has sought a response from the Karnataka government regarding a plea for protection against threats to the screening of Kamal Haasan’s film 'Thug Life.' 

A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan responded to the urgent nature of the matter by issuing notices to the State government, the State police, Raaj Kamal Films International Private Limited, and the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC). The plea highlights violent threats against linguistic minorities, with the petitioner’s counsel arguing that no action has been taken by state authorities and that they have allegedly aligned with extremist elements.

Despite the film being certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the petition asserts that ongoing threats have created an effective ban in the State, which violates the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. 

The Supreme Court is set to review the case next week.

K’taka HC directs ‘Thug Life’ producers to address concerns 

In a related development, the Karnataka High Court noted on the same day that the actor Kamal Haasan is yet to issue an apology for comments he made stating that "Kannada was born out of Tamil." The court directed the producer of 'Thug Life' to address an application by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat, which seeks to present cultural concerns regarding the actor's statements. 

The producer requested a week to file objections, while the court previously critiqued Haasan, suggesting that a simple apology would have alleviated the situation. The State High Court has scheduled the next hearing for 20 June.