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Supreme Court Seeks Karnataka Response on Plea to Grant Police Protection for Thug Life Release
- On June 13, 2025, the Supreme Court sought a reply from the Karnataka government regarding a petition that challenged an unofficial prohibition on screening Kamal Haasan's film Thug Life within the state.
- A legal petition submitted by M. Mahesh Reddy from Bengaluru contended that the ban resulted from an orchestrated campaign of intimidation, including threats of arson and calls for communal violence directed at linguistic minorities, following Haasan’s statement that 'Kannada was born out of Tamil.'
- Although the film had obtained official clearance and was set to be released across the country on June 5, 2025, its screening in Karnataka was obstructed due to threats from fringe groups, including the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, whose members reportedly tried to block access to Victory Cinema.
- Advocate A. Velan, representing the petitioner, stated the State capitulated to extremist elements, failed to register FIRs, and the Karnataka High Court prioritized appeasement rather than upholding free speech rights under Articles 19 and 19.
- The Supreme Court scheduled the case for hearing to ensure safe screening, marking a judicial effort to uphold constitutional protections amid a climate of intimidation and threats affecting public order in Karnataka.
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SC issues notice to Karnataka for ‘ban’ on screening 'Thug Life'
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice on a plea challenging Karnataka’s “extra-judicial ban” on the screening of ‘Thug Life’ — a film by veteran filmmaker Mani Ratnam and superstar Kamal Haasan. A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan sought responses of Karnataka’s Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Home) and Director General of Police in the matter and posted the petition for further hearing on Tuesday (June 17…
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