The recently released film about the Kanhaiya Lal murder case in Rajasthan has been the subject of much scrutiny, with legal actions taken to prevent its distribution. After navigating challenges in the High Court and Supreme Court, and after edits were made, the film is now available for viewing. Yash and Tarun, the sons of Kanhaiya Lal Sahu, attended a screening at the Urban Square Mall in Udaipur and were visibly distressed by the depiction of their father’s murder.
Producer Amit Jani posted a video of Kanhaiya Lal’s sons on social media, appealing to viewers to support the film. He announced that all profits from ‘Udaipur Files’ would be directed to Kanhaiya Lal’s family.
The producer’s social media message emphasized the emotional significance of the film and the importance of supporting the family. Jani aimed to generate sufficient revenue within a week to provide a 50-crore check to Kanhaiya Lal’s family, drawing a contrast with other ventures where profits had gone to controversial content creators. He made it clear that ‘Udaipur Files’ profits would directly aid the family.
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The film’s release faced legal hurdles, including appeals to both the High Court and the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court mandated the removal of certain scenes. The accused in the murder case attempted to prevent the film from being shown, though the Supreme Court deferred the final decision to the central government, leading to its release on August 8.
The film ‘Udaipur Files’ is based on the murder of Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor in Udaipur, Rajasthan, in June 2022. This event triggered widespread outrage across India. The murder was connected to the controversy surrounding a statement made by BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma about the Prophet Muhammad. Kanhaiya Lal’s public support for Nupur Sharma’s views, shared on social media, resulted in his brutal killing by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Gaus.