India’s top Muslim group seeks ban on Islamophobic film Udaipur Files
Jamiat Ulama‑i‑Hind warns the film vilifies Muslims, spreads hatred, and continues Bollywood’s pattern of anti-Muslim propaganda
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A prominent Muslim organization in India has moved the high courts of Delhi, Maharashtra, and Gujarat to stop the release of Udaipur Files, an Islamophobic film it says is designed to incite hatred and vilify the Muslim community.
Jamiat Ulama‑i‑Hind said the film “completely maligns a particular religious community, potentially fuelling hatred and seriously threatening mutual respect and social harmony.” The petition highlights how the trailer includes offensive remarks about the Prophet Muhammad and Islam’s sacred figures, and portrays the Islamic seminary Deoband as a center of extremism.
The film is based on the 2022 killing of Kanhaiya Lal, a Hindu tailor in Rajasthan’s Udaipur, who was murdered by two Muslim men after posting online support for BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s derogatory comments about the Prophet.
While the murder was widely condemned, later reports revealed that one of the accused, Riyaz Attari, had ties to the BJP—attending party events and appearing in photographs with local leaders.
Udaipur Files is scheduled for release on July 11. Directed by Bharat S. Shrinate and featuring actor Vijay Raaz in the lead role, the film was previously titled Gyanvapi Files, in reference to the historic Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi—claimed by Hindutva groups to have been built on the site of a demolished Hindu temple.
The mosque remains at the center of an ongoing legal and political campaign by Hindu supremacists.
Jamiat president Maulana Arshad Madani warned that the trailer includes Nupur Sharma’s original remarks—the same comments that sparked nationwide protests and international diplomatic fallout, damaging India’s global standing. “The film’s language is vulgar, inflammatory, and rooted in hate,” Madani said in a statement, adding that the trailer alone reveals the film’s dangerous intent.
The petition argues that the film’s release would violate constitutional protections under Articles 14, 15, and 21, which guarantee equality, non-discrimination, and the right to life and dignity. Filed under Article 226 of the Constitution, the case names the Union of India, Central Board of Film Certification, Johnny Fire Fox Media Pvt. Ltd., and X Corps as respondents.
The release of Udaipur Files is part of a broader pattern in India’s film industry, where Bollywood is increasingly aligning with Hindutva ideology and producing anti-Muslim propaganda. Films like The Kashmir Files and The Kerala Story were heavily promoted by the state and used to demonize Muslims, fuel Islamophobia, and create a sense of siege among India’s Hindu majority.
These films are not isolated works of fiction—they are weapons of political messaging, released in an environment of rising hate crimes, lynchings, and state-sponsored marginalization of Muslims.
They distort facts, erase complexity, and portray Muslims as the perpetual enemy—serving the ideological goals of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its affiliates.
With Udaipur Files, the campaign of cinematic incitement continues—leaving India’s Muslims once again targeted by both screen and state.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
