Can't allow mob rule: Supreme Court bats for release of Thug Life in Karnataka

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that Kamal Haasan-starrer Thug Life must be allowed to be screened in Karnataka, and that mobs and vigilante groups cannot be allowed take over the streets.

Haasan's comment that 'Kannada was born out of Tamil' had recently triggered a backlash and calls to boycott his film.

The apex court today stressed that the rule of law must prevail.

"We can’t allow this to happen. Rule of law demands that any person should be allowed to release a film. It can’t be at the fear that the theatres will be burnt. We are not saying that people should come and watch the film. But the film should be released," the Bench said.

The Bench of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Manmohan also ordered that a case pending before the Karnataka High Court over the issue be transferred to the apex court.

The Court was hearing a plea by Bengaluru resident M Mahesh Reddy alleging that the film, despite having a valid censor certificate, was effectively banned in the State due to threats by fringe organisations and the inaction of the State authorities.

The Court also observed that a movie cannot be banned because one has a different opinion.

"Just because one has a different opinion, that doesn’t mean the movie should be banned. Rule of law demands that any film that has a CBFC certificate should be released."

It further said that merely because Haasan made a statement about Kannada language cannot be reason to allow mob to block the release of the film.

"There is something wrong in the system. One person makes a statement and people think it’s a gospel truth. Let there be a debate! Let the enlightened people of Bangalore tell why he’s wrong, what he says is nonsense."

As per the plea before top court, after Victory Cinema announced its plan to screen the film in Bengaluru, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) President TA Narayana Gowda allegedly threatened to “set theaters on fire” if any film of Haasan was released in the State.

Around the same time, a social media post explicitly called for a repeat of the 1991 anti-Tamil riots and warned of violence if the film were to be released in the State.

No cases were registered despite widespread public outcry over the tweet and the alleged threats, the Court was told.

The plea before the top court further alleged that the threats escalated when KRV members attempted to lay siege to Victory Cinema on June 1. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) subsequently announced a “ban” on the film, reportedly under pressure.

The Supreme Court had last week asked the Karnataka government to respond to the plea. Today, the State said the producer of the movie has approached the Karnataka High Court and made a statement that he will resolve the issue.

The Court was not convinced with the answer and said,

"So what? We can’t allow this to happen. Rule of law demands that any person should be allowed to release a film. It can’t be at the fear that the theatres will be burnt. We are not saying that people should come and watch the film. But the film should be released."

It added that State has to ensure that anyone who has a Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) clearance should be allowed to release the film.

"This is an enlightened State. It should ensure this much," the Court remarked.

It then directed transfer of that plea from Karnataka High Court to the top court and asked State to file a counter affidavit by Wednesday. The matter will be taken up for hearing on Thursday.

According to the petitioner, although the producer of the film had approached the Karnataka High Court for police protection, the proceedings shifted focus to whether Haasan should apologise for his past statements.

The petitioner criticised this as appeasement, and alleged that it rendered the High Court route ineffective for securing fundamental rights. In the High Court, Haasan refrained from apologising for his statements and stated that he was in talks with KFCC regarding the issue.