Vijay Raaz’s Udaipur Files to Release on July 11 with Legal Challenges
The highly anticipated film Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder, featuring Vijay Raaz, will be released on July 11, 2025. The film is based on the real-life murder of Udaipur-tailor Kanhaiya Lal in 2022, and has been the subject of legal and community debate based on its sensitive material.
On Wednesday, July 9, the Supreme Court of India declined to hear or stay the film in an urgent application. The Supreme Court, comprised of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi, studied the equities and stated that the petitioners could come back to court after the Court’s summer recess. The bench stated, “Let it be released,” meaning there would be no immediate relief.
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What Is the Petition About?
The petition was filed by Mohammed Javed, one of the murder case, and presently on bail. He asked for a moratorium on the movie being released until after the trial is complete. Javed said the trailer for the movie, which came out on July 4 from the film’s producers, painted the accused guilty and could impact the trial.
He also described the trailer as “religiously incendiary,” and alleged that it could warp public opinion and ultimately hurt the integrity of justice. At the same time, the Delhi High Court had directed the movie’s producers to arrange a special screening for all lawyers that are participating in this case.
The Story Behind the Film
Kanhaiya Lal was brutally murdered on June 28, 2022, by Mohammad Riyaz Attari and Ghaus Muhammad. The murderers also videotaped the act and subsequently uploaded the video. The two claimed that they murdered Kanhaiya Lal in retribution for an alleged social media post of his that expressed support for former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. The murder of Kanhaiya Lal sparked national outrage and was investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The two murderers were charged under many sections of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. A month later, Mohammed Javed was arrested, and he was granted bail in September 2023. The trial is ongoing in a special NIA court in Jaipur. Despite the controversy surrounding the film, Udaipur Files is now scheduled for a theatrical release, revealing a politically charged and momentous moment of cinema that can be divisive.
