Director Bharat S Shrinate says he’s stunned after the Delhi High Court unexpectedly blocked the release of his film ‘Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder’ just hours before it was set to hit theatres on Friday.
Speaking to ANI, Shrinate expressed his disbelief at the court’s decision, especially since the Supreme Court had declined a similar plea only a day earlier.
“I was not expecting such a decision because just a day before, the petitioner filed in the Supreme Court and it was denied. So I don’t know how this happened in the High Court,” he said.
Despite the setback, Shrinate confirmed that the filmmakers intend to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the stay order. “We’re not questioning the judiciary. We’re going to the Supreme Court to seek justice,” he said firmly.
The Delhi High Court’s decision came in response to two petitions: one filed by the religious body Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind and the other by journalist Prashant Tandon.
Both challenged the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)’s approval of the film, arguing that its release could spark communal unrest and threaten public order, given the emotionally charged subject it deals with.
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The film is based on the shocking 2022 murder of Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor in Udaipur, Rajasthan. He was killed in broad daylight by two men allegedly upset over his social media post supporting former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. The attack was on video and triggered a wave of outrage across the country.
The petitioners have argued that the film could inflame existing tensions, particularly ahead of upcoming state elections, by dramatizing a deeply sensitive issue. They also questioned the timing of the release, suggesting it could have political motivation.
The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Anish Dayal, ordered an interim stay on the release of the film. The stay will remain in place until the central government decides on a revision application filed by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind under the Cinematograph Act of 1952.
The Court clarified that it wasn’t commenting on the film’s content or passing judgment on its merit. However, it emphasized the importance of following due process when raising objections to a film’s certification.
“We provide that till the grant of interim relief is out, there shall be a stay on the release of the film,” the judges noted.