Controversy may help film's performance: Top court defers 'Udaipur Files' hearing

India Today

9 hours ago

The Supreme Court on Monday deferred the hearing on petitions relating to the controversial film 'Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder', observing that the ongoing row could actually aid its performance."If there is a controversy, the movie is likely to perform well," Justice Surya Kant remarked, in a lighter vein, while hearing the matter alongside Justice Joymalya Bagchi.The bench was hearing two petitions - one filed by Mohammad Javed, an accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case, and the other by the makers of the film challenging the Delhi High Court's stay on its release.advertisement
The court said it would await the outcome of the proceedings before the Centre and posted the matter to next Monday, July 21. "We expect that the committee constituted by the Centre will hear the matter immediately, without any loss of time."The court allowed Javed, who was not a petitioner before the Delhi High Court, to appear before the committee. "We also permit Mohd Javed, as petitioner, to appear before the committee." The committee hearing was scheduled for 2:30 PM on Wednesday.At the time of writing, the meeting of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting committee was underway, with representatives of the filmmaker, a representative of Kanhaiya Lal's son, members of Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, and the lawyer for the accused Mohammad Javed in attendance.Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, appearing for Mohammad Javed, said the film dealt with two sub judice matters - the Kanhaiya Lal murder case and the Gyanvapi case."The movie portrays the judiciary as well in a certain way. The movie is bordering on hate, and bringing the judiciary into disrepute. There is much at stake. They can't claim free speech to violate fair trial or lower judiciary's reputation."She said, "It is something that generates violence. It's vilification of a community. Not one positive aspect about the community shown."Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani, said, "When HC asked us, I personally saw the movie. I was shaken in every sense of the word. If any judge were to see it, they will be shocked. Its complete theme is of hate against the community... Not one positive aspect about the community shown... homosexuality, judicial matters, treatment of women... A democratic nation certifying such movie... unimaginable.""I had watched the movie... It's a thematic dissertation of hate... I am normally on the other side to say it should not be stopped... Please see the movie. It is something that generates violence-seeds violence-it's vilification of an entire community-violence, hate, homosexuality, denigration of women, child abuse by one community-unthinkable that a democratic nation would allow such a movie to be certified," Sibal added.Justice Kant responded, "Our judicial officers are not school-going children that they can be swayed by movie dialogues... absolutely confident about their objectivity... sense of detachment." He also said, "I was wondering how Mr Sibal found time to see the movie."advertisementSenior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia, appearing for the producers, told the court, "I got a valid certificate from CBFC... they didn't go to the valid authority... went to the High Court on the last date without even disclosing legitimate interest."He said, "My film was supposed to release at midnight. The order came at 8 pm. Nearly 1,750 theatres across India had booked the movie. We lost six crucial days."He also submitted that "the producer and director of the film as well as the son of the victim who was brutally murdered in 2022 are getting repeated threats to their life." The court directed the police to assess the threat perception and take steps to protect them.Justice Kant said, "Balance of convenience is in their favor... if movie is released, it can lead to irreparable loss... but if there is delay, you can be compensated." The court noted that Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act gave the central government the power to suspend or revoke certification.advertisementThe court observed, "If the film is released then both these pleas are infructuous... the revision petition before the government is also infructuous."It added, "We have impressed on the counsels for the parties to join the proceedings before the government committee and extend their cooperation for speedy disposal."The Delhi High Court had earlier said, "The high court vide impugned judgment has not expressed any opinion on the merits, especially regarding the allegations regarding content of the movie." The order was passed in a batch of pleas, including one filed by Maulana Arshad Madani, who contended that the film was communally divisive.Kanhaiya Lal Teli, an Udaipur-based tailor, was murdered in June 2022, allegedly by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous, who claimed it was in retaliation for a social media post in support of former BJP leader Nupur Sharma. The case was taken up by the National Investigation Agency and is under trial before a special NIA court in Jaipur. The film is based on these events.- Ends