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Udaipur Files
Indian Hindi-language crime thriller film From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder is an upcoming Indian Hindi-language crime thriller film, starring Vijay Raaz, Rajneesh Duggal, and Preeti Jhangiani, Kamlesh Sawant, Kanchi Singh, and Mushtaq Khan. Initially scheduled for release on July 11, 2025, the film’s release was stayed by the Delhi High Court on July 10, 2025, pending a Central Government review of its certification due to concerns over communal disharmony and prejudice to an ongoing trial. The film has sparked significant controversy for its depiction of the murder and its potential to incite communal tensions.
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Production
Directed by Bharat S. Shrinate and Jayant Sinha, and written by Amit Jani, Bharat Singh, and Jayant Sinha and distributed by Reliance Entertainment. The film stars Vijay Raaz, Rajneesh Duggal and Preeti Jhangiani in lead roles. The film claims to be inspired by the events surrounding the Murder of Kanhaiya Lal on 28 June 2022.[3][4][5]
Cast
- Vijay Raaz as Kanhaiya Lal Sahu
- Rajneesh Duggal as Ishwar Singh (Intelligence Bureau officer)
- Preeti Jhangiani as Anjana Singh (journalist, wife of Ishwar Singh)
- Puneet Vashistha as Nizam
- Jayshree Mahto as Jasoda Sahu (wife of Kanhaiya Lal)
- Mushtaq Khan as Virendra Kumar Meena
- Ahsan Khan as Veer Pratap Singh
Synopsis
The film claims to be based on the murder of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur.[6] Ishwar Singh (Rajneesh Duggal), an intelligence officer, is assigned to investigate. As he digs deeper, he finds links to terrorism and radical groups. The story portrays that the murder was not random, but a planned act with deep connections to extremism and hidden networks.[7][8]
Controversy and legal issues
Summarize
Perspective
Udaipur Files has been mired in controversy due to its depiction of the Kanhaiya Lal murder, with petitioners alleging it promotes hate speech, vilifies the Muslim community, and could prejudice the ongoing trial in a Special NIA Court in Jaipur.[9]
On July 9, 2025, the Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing on a plea by Mohammed Javed, an accused in the murder case, who argued that the film’s release would violate his right to a fair trial by portraying the accused as guilty.[10]
On July 9, the Delhi High Court ordered the producers to arrange a private screening for petitioners, including Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and journalist Prashant Tandon, who sought a permanent ban.[11]
After the screening, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, described the film as “cinematic vandalism” and argued it fueled communal disharmony, citing scenes like a Muslim man throwing meat at a Hindu household and the arrest of Muslim students, which he deemed irrelevant to the core story.[12]
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) countered that it had removed 55 objectionable portions, ensuring the film was not community-specific but focused on the crime.[13]
On July 10, 2025, the Delhi High Court, led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Anish Dayal, stayed the film’s release, directing petitioners to file a revision application under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting within two days.[14]
The court ruled that the release would remain stayed until the Central Government decided on the revision, citing concerns about communal harmony and public order, especially with upcoming state elections.[15]
The producers, represented by Advocate Gaurav Bhatia, appealed to the Supreme Court on July 14, arguing the stay violated their freedom of speech and that the CBFC had already approved the film after extensive cuts.[16]
On July 16, 2025, the Supreme Court, led by Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, deferred the hearing to July 21, expecting a Central Government committee to review the CBFC certification under Section 6.[15]
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References
External links
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