New Delhi, June 20 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Karnataka government to protect the screening of Thug Life, a Tamil film starring Kamal Haasan, in the state. 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. Though Haasan later clarified that he did not intend to offend anyone and expressed respect for the Kannada language, screening of the film was deferred by the producers amid a charged atmosphere and a June 3 hearing when the Karnataka High Court insisted that Haasan must apologise. On June 17, the top court transferred the related petition filed by the film's producers in the Karnataka High Court to itself. The producers had sought police protection for a safe release. On the day, it also sought a response from the state as to how the release of a film certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) could be stopped. Senior counsel Satish Parasaran, appearing for the film's producers, told the court on Thursday that he was satisfied with the Karnataka government's affidavit and that the producers would go ahead with the screening. Advocate DL Chidananda, representing the state, said that Karnataka never banned the movie and would ensure its smooth release. The court, however, directed the state to take prompt criminal and civil action against any individual or group attempting to block the screening or incite violence. "Otherwise, someone says 'we'll see which theatres run it' -- which producer will want to show movies amid such lurking threats?" it observed. Senior advocate Anand Sanjay M Nuli, counsel for the Kannada Sahitya Parishattu (KSP), however, maintained that Haasan should apologise given his influential position and the emotive nature of language in Karnataka. While distancing the organisation from violent acts, Nuli said language is "the heart and soul of every state." But the bench retorted: "Language, caste, class -- everything is an emotive issue in India. But do you support burning theatres or issuing threats? You can always rebut such statements with logic, or even sue for defamation, but not through unlawful methods."...