The Udaipur Files has premiered in cinemas across India on August 8, 2025, after a protracted legal and regulatory review. The film dramatizes the real-life June 2022 murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur and reached theatres only after receiving judicial clearance. source
What the film is about
The film reconstructs the daytime attack on Kanhaiya Lal Sahu at his tailoring shop, an incident in which two assailants posed as customers and fatally attacked him. The perpetrators recorded the assault and circulated footage on social platforms, which amplified public outrage and prompted a wide-ranging investigation. The screenplay follows the killing, police and intelligence responses, ensuing legal action, and the social reverberations that followed the crime. The lead role of the victim is portrayed by Vijay Raaz, with supporting performances that depict law-enforcement figures and journalists connected to the case. source
Certification and legal hurdles
The film’s path to release was complicated. The Central Board of Film Certification required multiple cuts and edits before issuing certification, citing concerns over communal sensitivity. Petitions were subsequently filed in the Delhi High Court seeking to restrain the screening on grounds that the film could disturb public order. The court reviewed the matter and ultimately declined to stay the release, allowing the certified film to be screened as planned. source
Public reaction and rollout
The filmmakers and some members of the victim’s family supported making the factual account available to the public; at press screenings the victim’s son was reported to have attended and watched, highlighting the personal toll behind the headlines. The release has been wide, with industry reports indicating thousands of screens across India carried the film on opening day. Early audience responses have described the film as direct and uncompromising in its depiction of events. source
Broader implications
Beyond box-office numbers, the release reignites debate over how cinema handles real-life violent incidents, the responsibilities of storytellers, and the legal frameworks that mediate free expression and social order. Observers say the case may set a reference point for filmmakers who tackle contentious, real-world stories and for courts adjudicating similar disputes in the future. source