Install Fire Extinguishers: SC Tells Kamal's Thug Life Petitioners How to Handle Threats of Fire To Theatres

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to urgently hear a plea seeking protection from threats aimed at halting the screening of Kamal Haasan's Tamil movie Thug Life.

Thug Life Rejected

The Karnataka Theatres Association had filed the petition under Article 32, citing intimidation by fringe groups towards movie theatres that intended to show the film. The production house approached the Supreme Court for relief after the Karnataka High Court had earlier advised the association to compromise with those issuing the threats.

During the mention of the matter in the Supreme Court, an advocate representing Thug Life argued that, "There are open threats by fringe elements. They are saying theatres will be set on fire!"

Justice PK Mishra bluntly responded, "Install fire extinguishers!" The Supreme Court, during the brief hearing, simply said, "rejected."

The controversy around Thug Life deepened last week when the Karnataka High Court criticized Kamal Haasan over his earlier remark that "Kannada was born out of Tamil" - a statement that has sparked opposition in the state.

Karnataka HC's Critical Comments

Hearing a plea filed by Raaj Kamal International, which sought directions to prevent authorities from blocking the film's release, the Karnataka High Court made it clear that even a superstar cannot disregard people's sentiments. Advocate Dhyan Chinnappa, representing Kamal Haasan, had argued that the actor's comment was taken out of context and noted that actor Shivaraj Kumar was also present at the event where the statement was made, according to Live Law.

The Karnataka High Court emphasized, "If it is a reply of apology, we will take it. There is no apology in it. You may be Kamal Hassan or anybody, you cannot hurt the sentiments of the masses." The court stressed that India's linguistic diversity demands public figures to exercise caution: "What has happened because of it is unrest, disharmony. People of Karnataka only asked apology. Now you come here seeking protection. On what basis have you made the statement, are you a historian, linguist. On what basis did you speak?"

Recalling a similar episode involving C Rajagopalachari, the last Governor-General of India, who was compelled to apologise for a similar remark, the court remarked, "Now you are seeking protection for the release of your film. An apology would have done."

The court also reminded Kamal Haasan that, "Language is a sentiment attached to the people. You are not an ordinary man, you are a public figure. People writing on social media are also being investigated."

While Chinnappa urged the court to consider the context and view the video clip of the statement, the High Court maintained its stance: "Fundamental right of speech and expression cannot be stretched to hurt sentiments of masses."

When the court asked Haasan if he stood by his statement and whether he would withdraw it, Chinnappa replied that it was not for him to comment, as the producer was present. The court, however, pointed out that Kamal Haasan himself was the producer.

The judge suggested that a simple apology could have averted the situation. "Discretion is the best part of valour, we will not permit anybody's sentiments to be taken for a ride. Mistakes happen you must know what to do when mistakes happen. You say crores are spent, then leave Karnataka," the court remarked.

When Chinnappa contended that the public's right to watch the film was being hindered, the court shot back, "Let them come before the court, that I want to watch Thug Life."

Later, Kamal Haasan refused to given an apology and decided to halt the release of his Tamil film.