The Supreme Court on Tuesday criticized the ban on Kamal Haasan’s film Thug Life, emphasizing that law and order cannot be dictated by mob pressure. A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan stated that once a film is cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), no state authority or public threat can override its release. “Rule of law must prevail,” the court asserted, directing the state to ensure lawful screenings of certified films.

The controversy began after Kamal Haasan’s remarks at the audio launch of Thug Life, where he reportedly stated that Kannada had its roots in Tamil. This led to protests by pro-Kannada groups, who demanded an apology from the actor. Despite national clearance, the film was not released in Karnataka following a decision by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), citing public sentiments. Haasan refused to apologize, and the film premiered nationwide on June 5, excluding Karnataka.

The apex court also criticized the Karnataka High Court for suggesting Haasan issue an apology, calling it an unnecessary judicial intervention. Justice Bhuyan remarked, “It is not the High Court’s business to demand apologies in matters of opinion.” The bench stressed that civil disagreements should be addressed through reasoned discourse, not threats or bans. The court instructed the Karnataka government to submit a counter-affidavit in response to the legal challenge filed against the ban and reiterated that freedom of expression must be safeguarded in a democracy. The next hearing is expected soon, with the top court reinforcing that artistic freedom cannot be curtailed by extra-constitutional pressure.