Duty bound to maintain law & order in case of 'Thug Life' release in Karnataka: Govt tells Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Karnataka government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that if actor Kamal Haasan's movie Thug Life is released and screened in the state, it would take all necessary steps to maintain law and order, and provide security to all the citizens concerned and other stakeholders.

After a rap on Tuesday from the top court, the state government, in an affidavit, stated, "In the event the producers of the film decide to release the movie in the State of 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, the exhibitors, and the audience."

The Congress government also emphasised that it has not imposed any restriction on the release of the movie, duly certified by the Central Board of Film Certification. The movie has been released across the country on June 5 but it faced resistance in Karnataka following outrage and protests over the actor's remarks on Kannada language.

In its three-page written response to a PIL by Bengaluru resident M Mahesh Reddy, the state government stated that the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, the apex body of Kannada Film Industry has issued a letter on May 30, 2025 to the lead actor of the movie expressing its displeasure to certain statements made by him at a promotional event and has sought for his apology.

The state government also pointed out Raaj Kamal Films International, the producers of the movie filed a writ petition before the Karnataka High Court for security for exhibition of the movie.

"During the hearing of the case on June 03, 2025, the petitioner before the High Court- Raaj Kamal Films International has given an undertaking that they will not release the movie in the State of Karnataka till they resolve the issue with the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce," it said.

The affidavit was filed by Kumta Prakash, deputy secretary, home department (law and order) in compliance with the direction issued by the apex court on June 17, 2025.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court came down heavily on de facto ban on Kamal Haasan's movie, following his controversial remarks on Kannada language, saying a mob cannot be allowed to put a gun on theatre owners to prohibit the film's screening.

The court asked the Karnataka government to file its response to the petition questioning validity of such a ban by Wednesday and also transferred a pending petition by the co-producer for security before the High Court to the top court.

The court felt the film should be released in Karnataka and the rule of law cannot be allowed to be held hostage to mob threats.

The plea before the top court alleged prohibition on screening of the film in the state has been effected through threats of violence, intimidation, and extra-constitutional directives by non-state actors and the state government did not take any action in the matter.