Unthinkable For A Democratic Nation To Permit A Movie Vilifying An Entire Community : Sibal To Supreme Court On 'Udaipur Files'

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal said before the Supreme Court today that the film "Udaipur Files : Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder" was generating hate against one particular community.

"[Udaipur Files] movie generates violence, it is vilification of an entire community," he said, during the hearing of pleas seeking reliefs related to the controversial movie.

Such a film which generates hate against one community should not be allowed to be seen by millions in a democratic country, the senior counsel emphasized.

The matter was before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi which adjourned the hearing to await the Centre's decision on a revision petition filed against the movie's certification.

Sibal, appearing for Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani (writ petitioner before the Delhi High Court) apprised the bench that he had watched the movie in a private special screening allowed by the Delhi High Court, which suggested that he should watch it to ascertain if any objectionable content remained after the 55 cuts ordered by the Central Board of Film Certification. According to Sibal, even the revised version is objectionable and alleged that the film peddled a communal agenda.

"When High Court asked us to see the movie, I personally saw it. Once I saw the movie, I was shaken in every sense of the word. If any judge were to see it [will be shocked]. It is a complete thematic dissertation of hate against the community...Just see the movie. It is something that generates violence. It seeds violence. It's vilification of an entire community. Not one positive aspect about the community is projected in the movie...violence, hate, homosexuality, denigration of women by one community, child abuse and judicial matters...it is unthinkable that a democratic nation would allow this kind of movie to be certified...I don't think in any nation, such kind of agenda should be allowed to be viewed by millions."

Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia, for the film producer, countered Sibal, saying that the movie was based on the real-life beheading of a person and was not against any community. He further asserted that the message sought to be conveyed was against radical elements and about the effect of such incidents on families of victims.

However, Sibal maintained his stance, underlining that the movie does not show even a single positive aspect about the Muslim community. He highlighted that the movie portrays judicial matters as well, which contention was supported by Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy as well, who was appearing for an accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case.

A detailed report on the proceedings can be read here.

Case Title: MOHAMMED JAVED Versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS., W.P.(C) No. 647/2025 and JANI FIREFOX MEDIA PVT. LTD v. MAULANA ARSHAD MADANI AND ORS, SLP(C) No. 18316/2025