After Supreme Court clearance, Udaipur Files will hit theatres on August 8, 2025. Director Bharat Shrinate says, “Truth always wins” amid legal and censor challenges.
New Delhi: Today, on July 25, the film Udaipur Files, directed by Bharat Shrinate, is now scheduled to release in theatres on August 8, 2025, following the Supreme Court’s direction to the Delhi High Court to hear pleas that challenged the Centre’s approval to release the movie.
The movie is based on the brutal murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, Rajasthan, in June 2022. Kanhaiya Lal was killed inside his tailoring shop in Udaipur’s busy Hathipole area by two men armed with cleavers.
The reason behind the murder was that Kanhaiya Lal had allegedly supported a social media post that was considered offensive to Islam. This shocking incident had sparked nationwide outrage and raised serious concerns about law and order and communal harmony.
The release of Udaipur Files had been delayed due to censorship issues and legal challenges, and it missed its originally planned release date of July 11, 2025.
Director Bharat Shrinate earlier said that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had ordered 150 cuts to the film.
He had revealed to NDTV,
“We respect the Supreme Court’s order and are ready to release the film on August 8. Jani Firefox Films is going to start promotions and release Udaipur Files worldwide on August 8. Truth always wins.”
The film features Vijay Raaz in the lead role as Kanhaiya Lal and is produced by Amit Jani under the banner of Jani Firefox Films.
On July 25, 2025, the Supreme Court took up the matter and heard the filmmakers’ appeal against the Delhi High Court’s previous order that had stayed the release of the movie.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, said the appeal was infructuous (meaning no longer relevant) because the filmmakers had already accepted the Centre’s July 21, 2025 order, which had granted clearance for the release of the movie but with six specific cuts and certain modifications in the disclaimer.
The bench made it clear that it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the case and that the Delhi High Court is free to decide the matter regarding the stay of the film’s release.
According to the media, the bench stated that they were not interfering with the High Court’s jurisdiction and that the matter should proceed as per legal procedure.
Earlier, a petition was filed in the Delhi High Court, seeking a stay on the release of the film, claiming that Udaipur Files had the potential to incite communal disharmony and disturb public order.
The petitioners had argued that the movie could create tensions between religious communities and therefore should not be allowed to be screened publicly.
Despite these hurdles, the makers of the film have now announced the new release date as August 8, 2025, and plan to release the movie worldwide.
Director Bharat Shrinate, in his interview with NDTV, maintained a firm stance on their commitment to the film and the truth behind it, stating again,
“We respect the Supreme Court’s order and are ready to release the film on August 8. Jani Firefox Films is going to start promotions and release Udaipur Files worldwide on August 8. Truth always wins.”
Background of the Case
The case revolves around the film “Udaipur Files”, which is based on the real-life murder of Kanhaiya Lal Teli that took place in June 2022 in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor, was brutally killed in broad daylight by two assailants who claimed they were avenging a social media post that supported comments made about the Prophet.
The murder shocked the nation and was widely seen as an act of religious extremism.
Following the incident, multiple individuals were arrested and charges were filed under terrorism laws. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the probe.
While the criminal trial is still ongoing, the film “Udaipur Files” was announced, which aims to portray the events surrounding the murder and its aftermath.
Objections were raised by some of the accused and activists, arguing that the film might influence public perception, damage communal harmony, and most importantly, prejudice the fair trial rights of those accused in the murder case.
A petition was filed in the Delhi High Court, which led to a temporary stay on the film’s release. The film’s producer later challenged this stay order in the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, concerns were also raised about the certification process of the film by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), with allegations of political bias in the committee and questions on whether the Centre had the authority to suggest cuts.
Case Title:
(1) MOHAMMED JAVED Versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS., W.P.(C) No. 647/2025
(2) JANI FIREFOX MEDIA PVT. LTD v. MAULANA ARSHAD MADANI AND ORS, SLP(C) No. 18316/2025
(3) SATISH KUMAR AGGARWAL Versus MAULANA ARSHAD MADANI AND ORS., Diary No. 38697-2025
Click Here to Read Our Reports on Tailor Kanhaiya Lal
