Thug Life Controversy: Supreme Court Raps Karnataka Govt Over Kamal Haasan Film Ban Despite CBFC Clearance

Thug Life Row: The Supreme Court on Tuesday took a firm stand against the Karnataka government's handling of the release of Thug Life, the new Tamil-language film starring Kamal Haasan. The court objected to what it termed an "extra-judicial ban" and said that public sentiment or threats from groups cannot dictate whether a certified film is shown in theaters.

The bench, comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Manmohan, was responding to a public interest litigation filed by Mahesh Reddy. The petitioner sought the court's intervention to ensure that Thug Life is allowed to screen in Karnataka, where it has not been released following controversy over Kamal Haasan's comments about the Kannada language.

As reported by the Hindustan Times, the Supreme Court made it clear that the rule of law must prevail over street-level protests and disruptions. "We cannot allow mobs and vigilantes to take over the streets," the bench stated, emphasizing that any film with a valid certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) must be allowed to release, and the state has a duty to ensure that it does.

Kamal Haasan's Kannada Remark At Center Of Controversy Over Film Ban

The controversy began after Kamal Haasan, during a promotional event, remarked that the Kannada language was born from Tamil. The statement sparked backlash across Karnataka, with several groups demanding an apology. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce subsequently announced that Thug Life would not be released in the state unless Kamal Haasan issued a public apology-a demand he declined to meet.

The Supreme Court also expressed its displeasure at the Karnataka High Court's prior suggestion that Kamal Haasan should apologize to defuse the situation. The bench said that Kamal Haasan's words, if controversial, should have been debated and challenged in civil discourse rather than being met with calls for censorship. "His comments cannot be treated as gospel truth. The people of Karnataka could have simply said he was wrong," the judges noted.

The case related to the film, which was pending before the Karnataka High Court, has now been transferred to the apex court. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on Thursday. In the meantime, the court has asked the Karnataka government to update its stance on the film's release within a day.

Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Kamal Haasan in the lead, was released nationwide on June 5, 2025, except in Karnataka. The film features an ensemble cast including Silambarasan, Trisha, Aishwarya Lekshmi, and Joju George. Despite high expectations from the Mani Ratnam-Kamal Haasan reunion, the film has reportedly underperformed at the box office.