Madras High Court Issues Clear Order to Protect Kamal Haasan's Identity
The Madras High Court has taken a firm stand to safeguard actor Kamal Haasan's personal brand. Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy delivered a clear order on Monday that stops all unauthorized commercial exploitation of the veteran actor's name, photograph, and the title "Ulaganayagan."
Court Acts Against Unauthorized Merchandise Sales
Kamal Haasan approached the court after discovering that a private company based in Chennai had begun selling T-shirts and shirts featuring his name and image without obtaining proper permission. The court heard the actor's petition and immediately ordered a complete ban on such misuse of his identity for commercial purposes.
Justice Ramamoorthy directed the company to file its official response to Kamal Haasan's legal petition. The court has scheduled further hearings on this matter for February.
Public Notice Requirement and Cartoon Exception
The court issued specific instructions to ensure public awareness about the new restrictions. Kamal Haasan must publish notices in both Tamil and English newspapers clearly stating that nobody has the right to use his name or photograph without explicit permission.
Justice Ramamoorthy emphasized that this public notification step is essential to inform both individuals and businesses about the legal boundaries. Interestingly, the court made a clear distinction that these restrictions do not apply to the use of Kamal Haasan's image in cartoons, allowing for continued artistic and satirical representation.
Kamal Haasan Speaks on Broader Creative Freedom Issues
Around the same time as this legal development, Kamal Haasan addressed another significant issue affecting the film industry. He spoke strongly about the censorship controversy surrounding Vijay's film 'Jana Nayagan,' which failed to release on its scheduled January 9 date due to certification disputes with the Censor Board of Film Certification.
The actor released an official statement titled "For Art, For Artists, For the Constitution" where he articulated his position on creative freedom. He wrote that India's Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, which should be guided by reason rather than diminished by opacity.
Kamal Haasan emphasized that this moment extends beyond any single film. He stated that it reflects the space society provides for art and artists within a constitutional democracy.
A Call for Industry Unity and Fair Processes
The veteran actor highlighted cinema's collaborative nature in his statement. He explained that filmmaking represents not just individual labor but the collective effort of an entire ecosystem including writers, technicians, performers, exhibitors, and numerous small businesses whose livelihoods depend on fair and timely processes.
Kamal Haasan warned that when clarity disappears from creative processes, several negative consequences follow. Creativity becomes constrained, economic activity faces disruption, and public trust weakens significantly.
He concluded his statement with a powerful call for industry-wide unity and constructive dialogue. The actor urged the entire film industry to engage meaningfully with government institutions to implement reforms that would safeguard creative freedom, uphold constitutional values, and strengthen India's democratic institutions by affirming trust in both artists and citizens.
