New Delhi — Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, one of India’s prominent Muslim organisations, has filed petitions in the High Courts of Delhi, Maharashtra, and Gujarat seeking a ban on the release of the controversial film Udaipur Files—Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder, citing serious concerns over its potential to incite communal hatred, as per a report by the India Today.
The organisation’s president, Maulana Arshad Madani, issued a statement on Saturday warning that the film, which is scheduled to release on July 11, paints a distorted and Islamophobic picture of Muslims and threatens social harmony. Directed by Bharat S. Shrinate and starring Vijay Raaz, the film portrays the brutal killing of Udaipur-based tailor Kanhaiya Lal in June 2022 by two Muslim men, reportedly in retaliation for his support of former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
“The film completely maligns a particular religious community, potentially fueling hatred and seriously threatening mutual respect and social harmony among citizens,” said Madani in a statement shared on social media platform X.
The film’s trailer includes the controversial remarks made by Nupur Sharma, which had triggered nationwide protests and international diplomatic fallout, eventually leading to her expulsion from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “Such content damages the image of our great nation globally,” Madani added.
According to Bollywood Hungama, the film was initially titled Gyanvapi Files, referencing the ongoing legal battle surrounding the historic Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi. The trailer of Udaipur Files has drawn criticism for allegedly presenting offensive content against Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his wives, and for portraying the Islamic seminary of Deoband as a center of extremism.
Maulana Madani further noted that the film raises sensitive and sub-judice matters like the Gyanvapi Mosque dispute, currently under hearing in the Varanasi District Court and the Supreme Court. “Such provocative depictions are in violation of Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality, non-discrimination, and protection of life and personal liberty,” he asserted.
The film is being distributed by Reliance Entertainment and has already sparked a backlash for allegedly using Islamophobic tropes and targeting Muslim religious scholars (Ulama).
