Udaipur Files, a film featuring Vijay Raaz, receives approval from Delhi High Court, set for nationwide release on coming Friday.
The movie, titled Udaipur Files, based on the 2022 murder of Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor from Udaipur, Rajasthan, has finally seen the day of light in theatres across India on Friday, August 8. The film, directed by Bharat S Shrinate and Jayant Sinha, and produced by Amit Jani, tells the story of Lal's brutal killing in his shop in broad daylight by two men, an act linked to Lal's alleged social media post supporting former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma after her controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammed.
The movie, initially scheduled for release on July 11, faced considerable controversy and challenges before release. The Delhi High Court temporarily halted its release on July 10, citing concerns about communal unrest. The film's certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was delayed, and a petition challenging the Centre's August 6 order was filed by Mohd Javed, an accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case. However, the court rejected this petition, and a fresh order approving the certification was passed on August 6.
The producer's counsel asserted that the movie's intention was not to vilify any community and its message was "positive." Yash Sahu, one of Kanhaiya Lal's sons, expressed excitement about the film's release, stating that the movie is based on the incident of his father's murder on June 28, 2022. Sahu also expressed a desire for the criminals to be punished with the death penalty as soon as possible and hoped that people will support them in their fight for justice after watching the movie.
Security was tight during the release due to the film’s sensitive nature, with extra police deployment around Udaipur to prevent any communal unrest. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting confirmed the film does not target any community, which helped in clearing it for release, although political opposition and controversies around communal sensitivities persisted.
The movie is said to contain details about the murder plot being connected to Pakistan. According to Yash Sahu, the movie shows the details of the investigation, which is also known as the NIA's chart sheet. The release of Udaipur Files has been met with excitement from Kanhaiya Lal's family, who attended the film's premiere in Udaipur, expressing emotional responses and supporting the film as a medium to expose terrorism and the ongoing fight for justice, as the accused were yet to be punished years later.
Despite the controversies, the film was released in over 4,500 cinemas across India, marking a significant milestone in the portrayal of real-life incidents on the big screen. The movie's message, according to Yash Sahu, is positive, and he believes it will bring awareness about such incidents in the country. The future of the case and the film remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the incident and its dramatization have sparked important discussions about communal violence, terrorism, and the pursuit of justice.
[1] India Today [2] The Hindu [3] NDTV [4] The Quint [5] Scroll.in
- After overcoming numerous controversies and challenges, the release of 'Udaipur Files' in various theaters across India on August 8 brought together both sports and entertainment, offering a dramatic portrayal of a real-life incident that incidentally touched upon serious societal issues.
- With the release of 'Udaipur Files', discussions surrounding communal violence, terrorism, and the pursuit of justice extended beyond movies-and-tv and political discourse, invading the realm of sports discussions among spectators.
