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News18
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Reign Of ‘Hurt Sentiments' Will Destroy Democracy
Last Updated: Only grounded, objective criteria - threat to public order, incitement to violence, defamation, obscenity - should govern permissible restrictions. The Supreme Court has rightly slammed the Karnataka government and the state film chamber for siding with the enemies of free speech. The apex court was aghast that no action was taken against those who threatened violence over the release of actor-politician Kamal Haasan's movie, Thug Life. The state government told the court that it had not imposed any restrictions on the film and also pledged to provide full security if the producers chose to release it. It was heartening to see in this case that the SC not just gave relief to the Thug Life makers but also wanted action against those who had issued threats. The apex court Bench, headed by Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, was hearing petitions on June 19 filed by the Thug Life producer and a third party seeking guidelines on hate speech and threats of violence. Thug Life was scheduled for release in Karnataka on June 5, but got embroiled in controversy following Haasan's comment that the Kannada language was 'born out of Tamil." The comment was widely resented by pro-Kannada groups, which demanded an apology from Haasan. Taking a brave stance, he refused to apologise, despite the threat of imminent commercial losses because of the non-release of the movie in the state. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) also took a tough stand, saying that Thug Life would not be released without an apology from Haasan. When Haasan approached the Karnataka High Court, it chided him for his remarks and asked him to apologise. When the matter reached the Supreme Court, it not only criticised the Karnataka government but also reprimanded the state High Court for having urged Haasan to apologise. 'There is something wrong with the system when one person makes a statement and everyone gets involved. Why should the High Court say 'express an apology'? That is not its role," the SC said. On June 17, the Supreme Court pointed out that the rule of law requires a person to be able to release a film that has been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The court warned the state that it could not allow 'mobs and vigilante groups to take over," asserting that public sentiment should not override legal rights. It was only after the SC snub that the Karnataka government pledged to maintain law and order and ensure the peaceful release of Thug Life. The government clarified that it had not imposed any restrictions on the film's release and would provide necessary protection and security. This was not the first case in which the adversaries of free speech exploited the notion of 'hurt sentiments" to justify censorship. Public intellectuals assist them by raising the wrong questions, by debating whether protests over a film, book, or song are justified, and by asking whether someone's feelings were really hurt. They should be asking instead: can hurt sentiments be a basis for banning anything? Under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution, freedom of expression may be regulated only by 'reasonable restrictions" for state security, friendly relations, public order, decency, morality, contempt of court, defamation, or incitement to offend. But nowhere does the Constitution permit restrictions based solely on hurt sentiments or feelings. The distinction is vital: while reasons can be scrutinized and debated objectively, sentiments are personal and cannot be uniformly measured or validated. Dictionaries define 'sentiment" as emotional attitudes or opinions influenced by feeling, and 'feeling" as unreasoned emotional reactions. By their nature, these are subjective—what deeply offends one group may leave another unmoved. Take, for example, the case of M.F. Husain: some Hindus found his work as hurtful, while others didn't. It must be mentioned here that the anti-blasphemy law, Section 299 of BNS, is used to gag free speech. Section 299 (which was earlier Section 295A of the IPC) says: 'Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens of India, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic means or otherwise, insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both." Section 299 is logically untenable as it criminalises speech based on feelings, which—as we mentioned earlier—are subjective. Therefore, it is antithetical to India's constitutional spirit as it imposes vague restrictions on freedom of expression. The extant court cases are symptomatic of the systemic toxicity that sentimentalism has generated over the decades. Sentimentalism, along with its sibling sanctimoniousness, has supplanted reason in public discourse and political debate. Ranting, canting demagogues and intellectuals set the agenda, resulting in the silencing of dissent, throttling of creativity, and often atrocities against those who speak out—all in the name of soothing 'hurt sentiments.' This trend must be reversed. As Justice Bhuyan said, 'There is no end to hurt sentiments in India. If a stand-up comedian says something, sentiments are hurt, and there is vandalism… Where are we heading?" The reign of hurt sentiments must be dismantled from law and public life. Only grounded, objective criteria—threat to public order, incitement to violence, defamation, obscenity—should govern permissible restrictions. Otherwise, democracy will degenerate into mobocracy. The author is a freelance journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. First Published: June 26, 2025, 16:10 IST News opinion Opinion | Reign Of 'Hurt Sentiments' Will Destroy Democracy Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India.com
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Rajinikanth And Kamal Haasan Reunite Ahead Of Superstars Oath Taking Ceremony In Rajya Sabha
Mumbai: Acclaimed actor Kamal Haasan paid a visit to Superstar Rajinikanth ahead of his oath-taking ceremony as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. Haasan took to his official X (Earlier known as Twitter) handle and dropped a string of photos from the meeting. The pictures feature the 'Indian' actor presenting his official Rajya Sabha order to Rajinikanth. Haasan also presented Rajinikanth with a bouquet as the two Southern stalwarts met. In another image, Haasan and Rajinikanth also indulged in a warm embrace. Posting the photos on the micro-blogging site, Haasan wrote, 'I shared the beginning of this new journey with my friend @rajinikanth. I feel elated.' புதிய பயணத்தை நண்பர் @rajinikanth உடன் பகிர்ந்தேன். மகிழ்ந்தேன். — Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) July 16, 2025 Rajinikanth also treated the netizens with a glimpse of the meet and congratulated Haasan on his latest achievement. "My dear friend @ikamalhaasan who will be taking office as a member of the Rajya Sabha, heartfelt congratulations to him," he wrote. These captures of the two icons have gone viral on social media. For the unversed, aside from being a renowned actor, Haasan is the founder of the political party, Makkal Needhi Maiyam. He was among the six candidates from Tamil Nadu who were elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha. The DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) had named three candidates, allocating a seat to Haasan, in accordance with a prior agreement between the two parties. Haasan will be taking oath as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha on July 25. Talking about their professional commitments, Kamal last graced the screen with Mani Ratnam's "Thug Life". The gangster drama reached the cinema halls on June 5. Up next, he will be a part of S Shankar's "Indian 3". His lineup also includes a film with action choreographers Anbariv. On the other hand, Rajinikanth will next be seen leading Lokesh Kanagaraj's "Coolie", slated to get a theatrical release on August 14. Moreover, it is also being speculated that Rajinikanth will be joining forces with 'Maharaja' maker Nithilan Swaminathan for his next.
Hans India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Bengaluru Court Imposes Gag Order On Kamal Haasan Over Controversial Kannada Language Remarks
A Bengaluru civil court has issued an interim restraining order preventing renowned actor Kamal Haasan from making further public statements about the Kannada language, following a legal petition over his controversial remarks that sparked widespread outrage in Karnataka. The ex parte order was issued by the 31st Additional City Civil and Sessions judge on July 4, responding to a suit filed by Mahesh Joshi, chairman of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat. The legal action stems from comments made by Haasan during the audio release event of his film "Thug Life" in Chennai in May, where he stated that "Tamil gave birth to Kannada." This remark triggered significant backlash from Kannada cultural organizations and activists who viewed it as demeaning to their language and heritage. The Kannada Sahitya Parishat filed the suit on July 2, alleging that Haasan's statements suggested linguistic superiority of one language over another, thereby hurting the sentiments of Kannada-speaking people. The organization sought judicial intervention to prevent the actor from making similar remarks in the future that could cause distress to the Kannada community regarding their language, literature, and cultural identity. In granting the interim relief, the court recognized the Kannada Sahitya Parishat's authority to protect the interests of Kannadigas and their cultural heritage. The judge emphasized that immediate intervention was necessary to prevent potential harm to community sentiments while the case proceeds through the legal system. The court's order specifically restrains Haasan, along with his agents, representatives, or anyone acting on his behalf, from making any statements that claim linguistic superiority over Kannada or that could defame the language, literature, land, and culture of Karnataka. This comprehensive restriction remains in effect until the next scheduled hearing in the case. The controversy surrounding Haasan's remarks had far-reaching consequences for his film "Thug Life," directed by Mani Ratnam. The movie, originally scheduled for release on June 5 across India, faced significant obstacles in Karnataka following the linguistic controversy. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce demanded an apology from the actor to facilitate the film's release, while pro-Kannada groups threatened to target theaters screening the movie. Despite mounting pressure, Haasan, who recently secured a Rajya Sabha nomination from Tamil Nadu, refused to apologize for his statements. Instead, he chose not to release the film in Karnataka, leading to a protracted legal battle that eventually reached the Supreme Court. The Karnataka High Court had also suggested that an apology from the actor would help resolve the situation and allow the film's release. However, when this approach failed to yield results, the matter escalated to the highest judicial authority in the country. The Supreme Court ultimately intervened on June 18, directing the Karnataka government to ensure the uninterrupted release of "Thug Life" after the state filed an affidavit confirming no restrictions would be imposed on the movie's screening. The apex court emphasized that the state must take swift action against any groups attempting to forcibly disrupt the film's release. The civil court's reasoning for the ex parte order highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that if notice had been issued to Haasan before granting the injunction, the delay would have defeated the very purpose of providing temporary relief. The court determined that immediate action was essential to prevent further statements that could exacerbate tensions between linguistic communities. This case reflects broader sensitivities surrounding language politics in India, where regional languages hold deep cultural significance and any perceived slight can trigger strong emotional responses. The incident demonstrates how entertainment industry figures must navigate complex cultural sensitivities when making public statements about regional languages and cultures. The legal proceedings continue as the court balances free speech rights with the need to protect community sentiments and cultural pride. The case highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining harmony between different linguistic communities while respecting both freedom of expression and cultural sensitivities in India's diverse linguistic landscape.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kamal Haasan confesses that ‘greed for money' stopped him from learning. Actor says could have ‘learned more'
Kamal Haasan , known for his unmatched versatility in Indian cinema , has worn many hats over his 65-year-long career—actor, writer, director, producer, choreographer, and even a trained makeup artist. But now, in a strikingly honest revelation, the iconic performer says there's something he stopped doing somewhere along the way: learning. In an interview with PTI, Haasan admitted that his avarice—his own word—for money got in the way of his thirst for knowledge. 'I like money. I want it to come to me,' he told PTI, explaining why he no longer sought out new mentors or teachers. 'Because of my work schedule, I stopped seeking more gurus. I think my avarice for money stopped me from learning. Otherwise, I would have learned more.' The 69-year-old legend reflected candidly on how fame and fortune can gradually distance artists from genuine growth. He explained that while cinema allows one to reach a vast audience, it also removes the artist from the direct experience of appreciation or critique. Over time, this disconnect can lead to arrogance, as feedback is filtered through media reports or fan interactions rather than real-time applause or honest criticism. The result, he suggested, is a skewed perception of success and a growing detachment from reality. According to Forbes, with a reported net worth of around Rs 150 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read More Undo Kamal Haasan's recent movie Thug Life Haasan is currently back on the big screen with Thug Life, a gritty gangster drama directed by his longtime collaborator Mani Ratnam . Their reunion has generated massive buzz, as fans remember their 1987 cult hit Nayakan. Produced by Raaj Kamal Films International and Madras Talkies, the film is Haasan's 234th as a lead actor and co-written by the man himself. The story follows Rangaraaya Sakthivel, a mafia kingpin in Delhi, betrayed by his own blood. With a power-packed cast including Silambarasan TR (STR), Trisha Krishnan, Joju George, and Aishwarya Lekshmi, Thug Life has received roaring praise, especially for STR's electrifying performance in the first half.
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Bengaluru court restrains Kamal Haasan from making statements defaming Kannada
A Bengaluru city civil and sessions court on Friday (July 4, 2025) issued an ex-parte temporary injunction restraining actor Kamal Haasan from making any statements having the effect of causing hurt or defaming the Kannada language, literature, land and culture. Also Read | Rule of law must prevail, Supreme Court tells Karnataka on Thug Life screening The court also restrained the actor from posting, issuing or publishing or making any statement or remarks claiming linguistic superiority over Kannada language. Madhu N.R., judge of the 30th Additional City Civil and Sessions Court, passed the order on a suit filed by the Kannada Sahithya Parishat (KSP), Bengaluru. Also Read | Kamal Haasan moves Karnataka High Court for 'Thug Life' release after boycott calls Meanwhile, the court directed the KSP to give public advertisement stating that it has filed the suit in a representative capacity on behalf of Kannadigas, in terms of the provisions of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC), while ordering issue of notice to Mr. Haasan and adjourning further hearing till August 30. The suit has been filed in connection with Mr. Haasan's controversial statement, made on April 24 during the launch of his movie 'Thug Life' in Chennai, in which the actor had claimed that 'Kannada is born out of Tamil'. 'The reason that actor's statement caused immense pain and anguish to people is because it is manifestly and objectively untrue and it has been made with a sense of chauvinism, superiority and arrogance....' it has been contended in the suit. Though the issue of opposition to screen movie 'Thug Life' in Karnataka has been adjudicated before the apex court, the KSP has said that the 'defamatory and fallacious statement made by the defendant remains and continuous to hurt the sentiments of the people (including that of KSP) and has caused immense disrepute, disgrace and humiliation.' Pointing out that the actor's controversial statement is 'patently and admittedly' false, the KSP has said that 'in fact, both the languages are sister languages...' While pointing out that Mr. Haasan has refused to tender an apology for his 'false statement', the KSP has sought a direction to him to tender an unconditional apology to the people of Karnataka and Kannadigas and withdraw his controversial statement on Kannada language.
