The Karnataka government has told the Supreme Court that it would provide security to theatres if actor Kamal Haasan’s film ‘Thug Life’ is released in the state.
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday sharply criticized the state government for its failure to ensure the screening of the film ‘Thug Life’ in theatres across Karnataka. The court took strong objection to the situation, asserting that “mob and vigilantes cannot be allowed to take over streets.”
The court’s reprimand follows protests by Kannada activists who are opposing the film’s release in the state. These protests stem from controversial remarks made by actor Kamal Haasan regarding the Kannada language, which sparked a significant backlash in Karnataka. In response to the uproar, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) announced that ‘Thug Life’ would not be screened in the state unless Haasan issued an apology.
The court’s stern words underscore the importance of maintaining law and order and upholding the right to screen films without fear of public obstruction.
Earlier on Tuesday, Venkatesh Kamalakar, the Karnataka distributor for Thug Life, said, “I will not release the movie, and I have many reasons. I bought the Karnataka distribution rights, and today, if any movie has to earn money, it happens only within two weeks. It has been more than two weeks since the movie was released, and it has not done well even in Tamil Nadu.”
The Mani Ratnam-directed movie released on June 5 across India except in Karnataka, where its release was stalled following outrage over lead actor Haasan’s reported remark that “Tamil gave birth to Kannada”.
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