A group of students at NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad organised a screening of a documentary on jailed activist Umar Khalid on Wednesday evening, September 23, a student said on Thursday.
The documentary, Prisoner No. 626710 is Present, directed by filmmaker Lalit Vachani, was screened on campus “in solidarity”, according to the student.
The screening took place days after a proposed screening of the documentary at IIIT Hyderabad was cancelled following objections from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Students Organise Screening at NALSAR
According to the NALSAR student, the screening was organised by a group of students on Wednesday evening.
The student said the screening was held in solidarity with students at IIIT Hyderabad who had earlier planned to screen the documentary.
At IIIT Hyderabad, eight students associated with an independent campus platform called ‘No Tyrants, No Silence’ (NTNS) were issued disciplinary warnings over the proposed screening, according to reports.
The platform had planned to screen the documentary on September 18 as part of discussions around caste, merit and politics. The screening was later cancelled.
CBFC Raises Objection to Screening
The CBFC had said on September 17 that publicly screening an uncertified documentary would violate the Cinematograph Act unless a specific exemption had been granted.
The board’s position was in reference to the proposed screening of Prisoner No. 626710 is Present at IIIT Hyderabad.
The documentary has also faced opposition elsewhere. The RSS-affiliated ABVP opposed
