Kamal Haasan moves high court seeking protection over ‘Thug Life’ release in Karnataka; hearing today

Thug Life, set to hit the screens on June 5, has been caught in the crosshairs after Haasan’s remarks at the film’s audio launch in Chennai on May 24. At the event, Haasan had said, “Tamil gave birth to Kannada,” sparking immediate backlash across Karnataka.

In the writ petition filed by Raaj Kamal Films International before the high court, it was stated that the comment was only made to express cultural solidarity and had been selectively quoted afterwards. It also expressed the apprehension that the police were unlikely to extend protection to those associated with the movie and the audience upon release.

The petition submitted that the film had obtained the relevant certifications and any ban on it would interfere with the fundamental right “to carry on…business” under Article 19 of the Constitution as well as the rights of the audience to watch the film. Once the certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was obtained, the petitioner would be entitled to peacefully exhibit the film, and any steps taken to obstruct the release would be illegal and a challenge to CBFC’s authority.

It also stated that a ban on the film would cause crores in loss, and that irreparable harm might occur if interim relief was not granted to Raaj Kamal Films in the matter. The petition requested that the court issue a writ of mandamus restraining any measures against the release of the film.

The plea also sought a direction to the state police to provide security to those associated with the film, the audience, and film exhibits on the day of release and subsequent screening. It requested that the KFCC be restrained from giving any orders related to a ban on the release of Thug Life in Karnataka.

Earlier, after pro-Kannada organisations staged protests in cities including Bengaluru, Belagavi, Hubballi, and Mysuru, demanding an apology, Haasan clarified in Chennai that his remarks stemmed from “love” for the language. “I think what I said was said with a lot of love. Historians have taught me the language’s history… I didn’t mean anything,” he said.

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