Not Karnataka High Court's role to demand apology: Top court slams Thug Life ban

19-Jun-2025

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The Supreme Court on Jun 17 issued a notice in the case concerning the ban on the release of Kamal Haasan’s Tamil film Thug Life in Karnataka, criticising groups that threatened to ban the film's release over controversial remarks allegedly made by the actor.

The court said the rule of law cannot be held hostage to mob threats and warned that "groups of hooligans" cannot be allowed to decide what gets screened in theatres.

“If someone has made a statement, you counter it with another statement. You cannot threaten to burn down theatres,” the bench remarked.

It added that the people of Karnataka are free to disagree with Haasan, but fundamental rights must be protected.

“If enlightened people of Karnataka and Bengaluru believe his statement was wrong, they can issue a statement saying so. Why threaten to burn down cinemas?”