The Karnataka government on June 18 told the Supreme Court that if Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life were released in the state, it would take every step to maintain law and order and provide security to viewers and those associated with the film and its screening. A day earlier, the apex court had told the Karnataka state to uphold rule of law and protect citizens’ right to free speech.
In an affidavit ahead of today’s (June 19) hearing before Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan, the state government assured that “in the event the producers of the film decide to release the movie in Karnataka, the state government is duty-bound and will give protection and security for such release and for the people connected therewith, including the cast, director, producers, exhibitors and audience.”
On June 17, the Supreme Court transferred the producer’s petition from the Karnataka high court to itself. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce had written to actor-producer Kamal Haasan on May 30, expressing displeasure at certain statements made by him at a promotional event and had sought an apology. During the hearing in the Karnataka high court, the HC had repeatedly asked why Kamal was so reluctant to apologise or express regret when public sentiment was hurt.
The Supreme Court bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan had observed on June 17, “The high court had no business to seek regret or apology. As a custodian of rule of law and protector of rights, it should have considered the issue of whether a CBFC-cleared film be allowed to be released in theatres of the state.”
