NEW DELHI
The Supreme Court on Friday sought the State of Karnataka to reply to a petition seeking to make sure the protected and unimpeded screening of Kamal Haasan’s Tamil film Thug Life within the State. A Vacation Bench headed by Justice PK Mishra was additionally requested by petitioner, M. Mahesh Reddy, represented by advocate Athenam Velan, to take motion in opposition to parts who’ve issued threats and incited violence in opposition to theatres and the makers of the movie.
Issuing notice to the States, the court docket scheduled the case on Tuesday.
The Bench recorded Mr. Velan’s submission {that a} duly CBFC-certified Tamil characteristic movie was not allowed to be screened in theatres in Karnataka.
“The so-called ban under threat of violence stems not from any lawful process but from a deliberate campaign of terror, including explicit threat of arson against cinema halls, incitement of large-scale violence targeting linguistic minorities,” Mr. Velan argued.
Earlier this week, the petitioner, a Bengaluru resident, had sought pressing itemizing, saying “fringe elements” have been threatening arson in opposition to theatres which display screen the movie.
Mr. Velan had stated the transfer to enchantment the apex court docket was necessitated by the truth that the Karnataka High Court had “distressingly appeared to prioritise appeasement” in proceedings seeking the judicial safety of the elemental proper to free speech and expression.
“Instead of a clear directive to the State to stop the illegal threats and protect a certified film’s exhibition – fundamental to restoring law and order – the discussion reportedly focused on whether Mr. Kamal Haasan should apologise to the very fringe elements intimidating him and threatening public order. This effective endorsement of coercive censorship by suggesting compromise with perpetrators makes the High Court pathway currently ineffective for securing justice, compelling this urgent appeal in the Supreme Court as the ultimate guardian of the Constitution,” the petition had submitted.
The petition has questioned the Karnataka authorities’s “flagrant failure” to keep regulation and order within the State and defend constitutional freedoms.
It stated the “unconstitutional extra-judicial ban” in Karnataka stems not from any lawful course of however from a deliberate marketing campaign of terror and a chilling name for a repeat of previous anti-Tamil riots.
“This serious situation occurs within a disturbing societal context where chauvinistic elements have targeted linguistic minorities such as Hindi speakers in Bengaluru with impunity, fostering a climate of fear that now directly threatens constitutional order over this film…,” the petition has highlighted.
Published – June 13, 2025 02:23 pm IST
