Overview

• An interim ex-parte gag order issued on July 4 by the 31st Additional City Civil and Sessions Court bars Haasan and his affiliates from making statements claiming linguistic superiority over Kannada until the next hearing on August 30.
• The injunction follows a suit filed July 2 by Kannada Sahitya Parishat chairman Mahesh Joshi, who argued Haasan’s May remark that Kannada originated from Tamil hurt local sentiments.
• The court held that the Parishat is empowered to protect Kannadigas’ language, literature and culture and granted the order without notice to prevent further harm.
• On June 18 the Supreme Court directed the Karnataka government to ensure an uninterrupted release of Mani Ratnam’s "Thug Life", but state distributors remain wary due to security threats and financial risks.
• The case highlights the broader clash between safeguarding regional linguistic identity and upholding freedom of expression in India’s legal system.