Udaipur Files: Panel recommends deletion of dialogue on religious texts; Supreme Court adjourns plea to lift stay

The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned to Thursday the hearing of a matter related to the Delhi High Court-ordered stay on Udaipur Files, the movie based on tailor Kanhaiya Lal Teli's murder.

The Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymala Bagchi deferred the proceedings after a Central government-appointed panel ordered to review the movie submitted its report before the top court.

Ordering continuation of the stay on the movie, the Court asked the parties to file their objections to the committee decision before the next date of hearing, which is Thursday.

In the report, the committee has recommended the following changes:

a) Replace the existing disclaimer with the provided recommended disclaimer. Include a voice-over for the disclaimer.

b) Remove the frames in the credits that thank various individuals.

c) Revise the Al-generated scene depicting a Saudi Arabia-style turban.

d) Replace all instances of the name "Nutan Sharma," including on the poster, with a new name.

e) Delete Nutan Sharma's dialogue: "...maine toh wohi kaha hai jo unke dharma grantho mein likha hai..."

f) Remove the following dialogues:

Hafiz: "...baluchi kabhi vafadaar nahi hota..."

Makbool: "...baluchi ki..." and "...arre kya baluchi kya afghani kya Hindustani kya pakistani..."

The report of the committee has been accepted by the government. The producers have been directed to implement the same by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The Court was hearing two petitions - an appeal filed by the producers of the movie against the Delhi High Court order to stay the release of the movie; and a writ petition filed by one of the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case claiming that his right to fair trial would be prejudiced if the movie is released.

The producers of the movie approached the top court after the Delhi High Court stayed the release of the movie on July 10 and ordered the Central government to exercise its revisional powers under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act to examine the movie.

The High Court order was passed on a batch of three petitions including one filed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani seeking a ban on the movie based on tailor Kanhaiya Lal Teli's murder in Udaipur, for vilifying Muslims. The movie was slated to be released on July 11.

Earlier, the CBFC had told the High Court that certain offending portions in the movie have been removed. The Court had then directed the producer to arrange a screening of the movie and the trailer for the counsel appearing in the matter - Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal for Madani and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma for CBFC.

A day after screening of the movie, Sibal told the High Court that he was appalled after watching the movie.

"This is not right for the country. This is not art. This is cinematic vandalism," Sibal had told the High Court.

The High Court had then asked the Central government to review the movie. A panel headed by the Additional Secretary of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting saw the movie on July 17. It had heard the aggrieved parties on July 16.