SC says films cleared by CBFC must be released nationwide

The Supreme Court of India today made a significant observation regarding the freedom of artistic expression and the rule of law, stating that any film cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) must be allowed to be released across all states. The remark came during a hearing concerning the Tamil film ‘Thug Life’, which has faced an extra-judicial ban in Karnataka. The CBFC, also known as the Censor Board, is a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that certifies films for public exhibition in India. A CBFC certificate legally permits a film to be screened.

A bench comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Manmohan expressed strong disapproval of the film’s ban, emphasizing that the court "cannot allow mobs and vigilantes to take over the streets." The Apex Court underscored that once a film has received CBFC certification, it is the state’s duty to ensure its lawful screening, regardless of local objections or threats by fringe groups.

The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Mahesh Reddy, who sought directions to allow the screening of ‘Thug Life’, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mani Ratnam. The film’s release in Karnataka was halted after certain groups threatened violence, protesting against recent remarks made by actor-politician Kamal Haasan, one of the film's producers. Haasan had controversially stated that “Kannada was born out of Tamil”, a comment that provoked linguistic and regional sentiments, leading to unrest.

In response to the situation, the Supreme Court has directed the Karnataka government to file its counter-affidavit by Wednesday, and scheduled the matter for further hearing on Thursday. The case raises critical questions about the balance between freedom of expression, state responsibility, and maintaining public order, while reaffirming the principle that constitutional rights and legal processes must prevail over street-level intimidation.