Supreme Court to hear plea for 'Udaipur Files' release 'in a day or two'
NEW DELHI:
Supreme Court
on Monday told producers of the film 'Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder', screening of which has been stayed by
Delhi high court
, that it will hear its plea for release of the movie in the theatres "within a day or two".
Senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia appealed to a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi for urgent hearing on the special leave petition by Meerut-based producer 'Jani Firefox Media' challenging the high court's July 10 order stalling release of the film despite the censor board clearing its screening with certain cuts.
Bhatia said the high court order came on a petition by Maulana Arshad Madani, who claimed the film was an attempt to vilify an entire community, even though the storyline of the movie is based on a true incident of beheading of Kanhaiyalal by two Muslim men in June 2022 for sharing a post on Prophet Mohammad, and that the producers had carried out cuts suggested by CBFC.
The high court had disposed of Madani's petition by permitting him to appeal against permission to release the film before Union government. It had said, "Since we are relegating the petitioner to remedy of revision under Section 6 of Cinematograph Act, we direct that till the application for interim relief, if made by the petitioner along with the revision petition under Section 6, is decided by central govt, release of the film shall remain stayed.
"
The film producer through advocate Pulkit Agarwal cited several SC judgements which had laid down the principle that a film cleared by censor board cannot be stalled from being screened in theatres unless there is an explicit violation which squarely fell within 'reasonable restrictions' on right to free speech specified under Article 19(2) of the Constitution.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
What to expect at Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2025-26?
With less than six months for the opening of the sixth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale — which will be held from December 2025 to March 2026 — its curators, multi-disciplinary artist Nikhil Chopra and Goa-based artist-led organisation HH Art Spaces, shared their curatorial vision on July 15. Titled 'For the Time Being' the curators note that the Biennale 'is an invitation to embrace process as methodology, and to place the friendship economies that have long nurtured artist-led initiatives as the very scaffolding of the exhibition'. Alluding to Kochi's past as a historic port city and centre for trade, the note states, 'we begin with our site and region to engage in dialogue with emerging global perspectives. This rootedness allows us to resist the pressures of the conventional biennale model as a finished spectacle, and instead shape something that is evolving, responsive, and alive.' It adds: 'This edition of the biennale is also an invitation to think through embodied histories, of those that came before us and continue to live within us in the form of cells, stories and techniques… We invite artists to seek resonances across geography and time, to trace shared memories, mirrored struggles, and new affinities rooted in empathy and deep listening.' One of India's biggest art events that also draws significant global attention, the biennale that had its inaugural edition in December 2012 has been grappling with challenges in recent years. Postponed a day before it was to open its fifth edition in 2022, the sixth edition of the biennale was initially scheduled to be held in December 2024. While Chopra and HH Art Spaces were announced curators for the forthcoming edition in November 2024, a release issued had also noted that the event will feature 60 artists and artistic practices from across India and the world. Last year also saw several organisational changes in the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF). While former Chief Secretary to the Government of Kerala Venu Vasudevan is now the chairperson of the KBF, former United Nations official Thomas Varghese is CEO of the foundation. Conceived in 2010 at the behest of the then culture minister for Kerala, MA Baby, and with Kerala-born Mumbai-based artists Bose Krishnamachari and Riyas Komu at the helm, the first edition of the biennale was curated by the duo. In the subsequent years, the biennale has seen artist-curators such as Jitish Kallat (2014-15), Sudarshan Shetty (2016-17), Anita Dube (2018-19) and Shubigi Rao (2022-23). The list of participants for this year is expected to be announced in October. The curatorial vision further states, 'Many forms of liveness — performances, actions and conversations — will bring alive the 110 days of the Biennale. Durational works that blur process and presentation will invite audiences into embodied, participatory moments, challenging a static exhibition. We believe this is what a Biennale can be: a space of aliveness, presence, and communion. A place where people come together, not just to see art, but to be with it, and with each other.'
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
CBFC's Kryptonite: Superman may save the world, but smooching is off limits in India
James Gunn's Superman was set to soar high in Indian cinemas this month. Instead, audiences were left puzzled when the superhero's tender moments vanished mid-scene. India's Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) cut two kissing scenes, including a much-talked-about 33-second mid-air embrace, calling them 'overly sensual'. These edits were made so the film could get a UA (13+) rating before its 7 July certification. Many felt the cuts were unnecessary and reeked of double standards. Actor Shreya Dhanwanthary posted, 'If this is true, this is RIDICULOUS!!! Some ridiculous crap happens every day. Every. Damn. Day. Sure this is the least of our worries but is something done about anything else? There is some crap every day. Every. Damn. Day.' — jammypants4 (@jammypants4) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Lana Green Is Retiring - Her Final Jewelry Pieces Are 80% Off The Heritage Journal Read More Undo Digital creator Amol Jamwal joined in, writing on X, 'You can have lewd double meaning jokes in Housefull 5. Beheadings & gory violence in Jaat But…. Superman kissing Lois Lane is where we draw the line.' — shreyadhan13 (@shreyadhan13) — pranavgngadhrn (@pranavgngadhrn) Live Events — madmanweb (@madmanweb) Another user summed up the contradiction: 'CBFC would allow horrific scenes of violence and sexual assault in a U certified film that kids are freely allowed to watch, but won't allow consensual kissing in a U/A comic book movie that kids should watch under adult supervision.' Old tension, new flashpoint This isn't the first film to get snipped for 'morality'. Earlier this year, the Brad Pitt-led F1 movie saw a middle-finger emoji replaced with a harmless fist. Thunderbolts lost its swear words. Last year, the CBFC blocked The Apprentice, a Donald Trump biopic, after director Ali Abbasi refused to comply with cuts. Abbasi said, 'I ran away from Iranian censorship only to meet corporate censorship of the US. Now India. Really? Censorship seems to be an epidemic at the moment.' Santosh, an award-winning film on police violence and misogyny, faced the same fate when its director Sandhya Suri called the cut requests 'disappointing and heartbreaking'. Why it stings The anger is not just about Superman. Many see this as part of a bigger problem. While Hollywood kisses get the chop, Indian films with explicit violence, stalking and misogyny glide through with minimal fuss. Some Bollywood blockbusters like Animal, often slammed for glorifying toxic masculinity, have no trouble with censors. Controversial releases like The Kashmir Files and The Kerala Story, accused of distorting facts and stoking communal tensions, sailed through with political support. A lost right to appeal Much of this boils down to power with no oversight. The CBFC's guidelines promise freedom of expression but tag it with 'reasonable restrictions' for 'decency or morality'. The Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, which once gave filmmakers an industry-level appeal, was scrapped in 2021. What remains is a tedious and expensive court battle, out of reach for many local and foreign studios trying to hit global release dates. Indian cinema's awkward dance with on-screen kissing goes back decades. Until the 90s, kisses were mostly replaced by symbolic shots — flowers brushing, birds flying. The 1933 film Karma broke the mould with a four-minute kiss but little changed for years. Attitudes have softened in urban pockets but plenty of India still clings to older, conservative views, keeping the censor's scissors busy. While Superman's hopeful tone lives on, this debate is not going away. For now, fans in India will have to imagine what a 33-second mid-air kiss between Superman and Lois Lane might have looked like. Variety has reached out to the CBFC and Warner Bros. Discovery for comment but silence holds. The question left hanging is simple: where does India draw the line between free expression and forced restraint? Many in the industry want an answer.
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Samay Raina Gives Written Apology To Women's Panel Over Sexist Remarks
New Delhi: Comedian Samay Raina, who appeared before the National Commission for Women over his alleged offensive and sexist remarks during his show 'India's Got Latent', has submitted a written apology to the panel today. Mr Raina expressed regret for his remarks, and the Chairperson of the Commission, Vijaya Rahatkar, told the comedian that it is important to maintain respect and sensitivity toward women in public forums. She asked Mr Raina to refrain from making such a statement. His appearance before the panel follows repeated summonses issued since February. Raina and five other influencers did not attend the original hearing on February 17, citing travel and security-related constraints. The NCW rescheduled the hearing, giving them time to return to India and appear in person. The NCW rescheduled the hearing, giving them time to return to India and appear in person. The row started when sexist remarks were made at India's Got Lalent - a YouTube-based reality show hosted by Samay Raina. YouTuber and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, known as 'BeerBiceps', made distasteful comments about parents and sex on Raina's show 'India's Got Latent'. The remarks sparked massive outrage, leading to multiple complaints against the social media personality. Today, Samay Raina and other influencers appeared in the Supreme Court over their remarks against people with disability. Mr Raina and five others were appearing in a case that sought action against them. The remarks were made on the same show. Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi today heard a case related to stand-up comics and podcasters, including Samay Raina, who are in trouble for controversial remarks in their shows. The influencers have been asked to respond to a petition that flagged their objectionable remarks on persons with disabilities. Sources said the court has taken serious note of these remarks. The top court also asked Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, to prepare social media guidelines that balance freedom of speech and expression and rights of others.
