The Supreme Court slammed the Karnataka government's decision to prevent the release of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam's Thug Life in Kannada. Describing it as an "extra-judicial ban", an SC bench featuring Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Manmohan shared their concerns about the the law and order situation and urged the government to decide on reversing the ban on the film. "We can't allow mobs and vigilante groups to take over the streets. Rule of law must prevail. We can't allow this to happen. If somebody has made a statement, counter it with a statement. Somebody has made some writing, counter it with some writing," said the appellate court.
Earlier this year, Kamal Hassan's comment about Tamil being the origin of Kannada landed him and the film in controversial territory after it provoked pro-Kannada groups, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, and the people of Karnataka. They demanded an apology from Kamal, and because the actor did not provide one, enforced a ban on the film. Subsequently, a person named M Mahesh Reddy filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court challenging the ban as part of a PIL. The court has come out strongly against the ban and has asked the government to file a counter affidavit by tomorrow.
Empasising that the state government must ensure the screening of any film with a Censor Certificate, the court stated, "Rule of law demands that any film which has a CBFC certificate must be released and the State has to ensure its screening. It can't be at the fear of burning down the cinemas that the film can't be shown." It added, "People may not watch the film. That is a different matter. We are not passing any order that people must watch the film. But the film must be released."
The court rebuked the order from the state high court asking Kamal to apologise for his remark and Kannadigas' death threats against the actor. "It is none of the business of the High Court," said Justice Bhuyan about the state high court's order. "All the enlightened people of Bangalore can issue a statement that he is wrong. Why should there be a resort to threats?" Bhuyan further added rhetorically.
"There is something wrong in the system, that one person makes a system..let there be a debate on the issue. Let people say he is wrong," shared Justice Manmohan.
Earlier, the state high court condemned Kamal's remark about Kannada and found that a "single apology could have resolved the situation."
