In a significant development, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) has successfully pushed for 61 cuts in the upcoming controversial film Udaipur Files, citing its derogatory portrayal of Muslims and offensive remarks against Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The organisation had taken legal action before the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the Delhi High Court, and the Supreme Court to demand removal of objectionable content.
One of JUH’s primary concerns was the inclusion of controversial remarks made by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma against Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, along with their justification in the film. On July 21, following JUH president Arshad Madani’s objections, the Central Government accepted the demand to remove the justification entirely. A fresh order on August 6 confirmed that scenes featuring Nupur Sharma and her derogatory statements had been deleted by the producer.
While the Jamiat had called for 61 cuts, the CBFC ultimately approved 55. Activists and rights groups have widely criticised the film for its alleged attempt to fuel communal tensions through a distorted portrayal of the Muslim community.
In a press release, JUH hailed the cuts as a victory for religious respect but expressed disappointment that the film’s certification was not revoked. “Although the derogatory religious reference and scenes have been removed, we hoped that the Central Government would revoke the film’s certification altogether, as the film deeply vilifies Muslims,” the statement read.
The Jamiat stressed that such incidents reflect a broader trend of vilifying Muslims in Indian cinema. “This will serve as a major lesson and is also a declaration that under the name of freedom of expression, no individual, community or nation’s religious sentiments can be hurt,” the release concluded.
