SC directs Karnataka to act against those obstructing release of Kamal Haasan’s ‘Thug Life’
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Karnataka government to take action against anybody who “tries to forcibly obstruct the release” of the film Thug Life, starring actor and politician Kamal Haasan, reported Bar and Bench.
Taking note of the state government’s submission that it would provide “full protection and security” for the screening of Thug Life if the producers decide to release it in Karnataka, a bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan closed the public interest litigation seeking the film’s screening.
On June 3, Haasan’s production house told the Karnataka High Court that it would not seek to release the film in the state amid a row over his remark that the Kannada language “was born out of Tamil”.
Haasan made the remarks on May 24 at the audio launch for Thug Life in Chennai, after which pro-Kannada organisations held protests demanding that he apologise for them.
During the hearing on Thursday, the Supreme Court voiced its disappointment with the state for yielding to pressure from certain groups who claimed their sentiments were hurt by Haasan’s statements, reported Live Law.
The bench said this had resulted in the stalling of artistic pursuits.
“Just because of an opinion a movie is stopped, a stand up comedian is stopped, a person is stopped from reciting a poem,” the court said, according to Bar and Bench. “You [state]...
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