"Any Film That Has CBFC Certificate Should Be Released": Supreme Court Transfers 'Thug Life' Petition From Karnataka High Court To Itself
The Court said it cannot allow a situation where mobs or self-appointed vigilantes take over the streets and dictate terms through threats, and directed the State to file its reply.
The Supreme Court today transferred to itself a petition alleging that the Tamil film Thug Life, starring actor Kamal Haasan, though certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), was not being permitted for screening in theatres across Karnataka.
A Bench of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Manmohan observed, “We can't allow mob and vigilance to take over the streets. File counter. You can't be a proxy... File a reply by tomorrow, we cannot allow this to happen.”
Justice Manmohan remarked, “Rule of law demands that any person should be allowed to release this film. The person may come, may not watch the film... We are not passing an order that please come and watch the film. But the film must be released.”
When the State submitted that the producer had given a statement that a resolution may be arrived at, Justice Manmohan responded, “Will the rule of law depend on the statement of one person?”
He further stated, “It is the rule of law that is important. The state has to ensure that anyone wants to show a film, that film must be released after it has got a CBFC certificate. It has a certificate, it is liable to be screened.”
The Bench reiterated, “It cannot be that because of the fear of burning up the cinema halls or because people say that we will come and do a gherao, that the film will not be released.”
Referring to the broader constitutional principles involved, Justice Manmohan observed, “See, it's concerning rule of law. It's concerning a fundamental right. The court is intervening directly. That is what the Supreme Court is meant for. To be a custodian of the rule of law, as well as a fundamental right. That's not just a video or a film. It's much bigger than this.”
He added, “Let there be a debate on the issue... The rule of law is far more crucial. The rule of law demands that any film that has a CBFC certificate should be released. It should be allowed to be screened and the state has to ensure that the rule of law prevails in that state.”
The Court directed the State of Karnataka to file its counter-affidavit.
Background
On June 13, 2025, the Supreme Court issued notice to the State of Karnataka in a writ petition alleging that the Tamil film Thug Life, despite being certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), was not being allowed to be screened in theatres across Karnataka.
The Petitioner contended that the film was facing an unofficial ban enforced through threats of violence, rather than any lawful order. It was alleged that there was a “deliberate campaign of terror,” including threats of arson against cinema halls and incitement of communal violence targeting linguistic minorities.
The Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan recorded, “It is argued by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner that a duly CBFC certified Tamil Feature Film ‘Thug Life’ is not allowed to be screened in the theaters in the State of Karnataka. The so called ban under threat of violence stems not from any lawful process, but from a deliberate campaign of terror, including explicit threats of arson against cinema halls, incitement to large-scale communal violence targeting linguistic minorities.”
Cause Title: M. Mahesh Reddy v. State of Karnataka & Ors. (Writ Petition (Civil) No(s). 575/2025)
