'Can't allow mobs to take over streets, rule of law must prevail': Supreme Court slams ban on Kamal Haasan's Thug Life

A bench comprising Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan expressed concern over the ban on the film while hearing a plea filed by one Mahesh Reddy who sought directions for the film's release.

The film was not allowed to release in Karnataka after some groups threatened against the film's exhibition over Haasan's controversial remark where the actor claimed Kannada was born out of Tamil.

"We can't allow mobs and vigilante groups to take over the streets. The rule of law must prevail. We can't allow this to happen. If somebody has made a statement, counter it with a statement. Somebody has made some writing, counter it with some writing. This is proxy...," Justice Bhuyan said as quoted by Live Law.

"Rule of law demands that any film which has a CBFC certificate must be released and the State has to ensure its screening. It can't be that at the fear of burning down the cinemas, that the film can't be shown. People may not watch the film. That is a different matter. We are not passing any order that people must watch the film. But the film must be released," Justice Manmohan added.

"Rule of law is important. State has to ensure that anyone who wants to show a film, that film must be released after it has got a CBFC certificate."

The top court has also slammed the Karnataka High Court's direction to Haasan to apologise for his remarks stating it was not the High Court's business.

The bench has ordered the transfer of the petition filed in the High Court to the Supreme Court.

The top court has asked the State to file its counter on Wednesday. The matter will be next taken up on June 19.

The petition, which has been asked for a transfer from the lower court to the top court, will also be taken up on the same day.

What is the controversy about?

Speaking at an event in Chennai ahead of his upcoming film Thug Life's release, Haasan had said: "Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil, so you too are included (part of it)."

The comments stirred a sharp row in Karnataka with state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Vijayendra Yediyurappa calling the actor's behaviour "uncultured" and accusing him of insulting Kannada.

"One should love one's mother tongue, but showing disrespect in its name is uncultured behavior. Especially artists should have the culture of respecting every language. It is the height of arrogance and arrogance that an actor @ikamalhaasan who has acted in many Indian languages, including Kannada, has insulted Kannada by including actor Shivarajkumar in the glorification of his Tamil language," the state BJP chief said.

The controversy spiralled with pro-Kannada groups in Karnataka burning the actor's posters. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) announced a ban on the film unless Haasan issues a public apology.

The activists claimed that Kannada has a history spanning thousands of years and demanded that the actor apologise to the people of the state.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, a pro-Kannada organisation, went a step ahead and lodged an FIR with Bengaluru Police against Kamal Haasan for his remarks.