SC orders protection to screen Haasan's movie

The Supreme Court on Thursday offered a resounding defence of artistic and creative freedoms, asserting that movies, stand-up comedy and poetry cannot be curtailed merely because some groups claim their "sentiments are hurt," as it directed the Karnataka government to protect the screening of Thug Life, a Tamil film starring Kamal Haasan, in the state.

- Utkarsh Anand

NEW DELHI:

The court's firm stance came as the Karnataka government submitted an affidavit assuring full protection to the film's release after it was effectively stalled by threats from certain groups. A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan said the duty of the state goes beyond mere neutrality and it must "take to task" those who try to muzzle creative expressions through threats and violence.

"This litany of hurt sentiments -- there will be no end to it. And because someone says their sentiments are hurt, should movies be stopped, stand-up comedy be stopped, and poems not recited? We cannot allow this."

The bench underscored that fundamental rights cannot be held hostage by mobs, adding: "Imposing bans will take us nowhere...A stand-up comedian says something, someone is hurt, and cases are registered. Here, mobs take over and stop the screening of a movie. We should be able to control our sentiments and not be subsumed by it."

The petition before the top court was filed by M Mahesh Reddy, who alleged state complicity in allowing vigilante groups to disrupt the release of Thug Life following Haasan's controversial statement at a music launch last month, where he remarked that Kannada originated from Tamil. The comment stirred widespread protests, with Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) and language-based organisations like Kannada Sahitya Parishattu, demanding an apology.