'Prisoner No. 626710 present': CBFC flags Umar Khalid film screening at IIIT-Hyderabad
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) flagged a student-led screening of an uncertified documentary about activist Umar Khalid at IIIT-Hyderabad. While the institute distanced itself from the event, the incident highlights ongoing tensions regarding the screening of politically sensitive content on university campuses.
Why it matters
This event underscores the intersection of academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and government censorship of political discourse in India.
HYDERABAD: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) objected to the proposed screening of a documentary on jailed activist Umar Khalid at IIIT-Hyderabad, saying screening an uncertified film would violate the Cinematograph Act unless an exemption had been granted, according to news agency PTI reported.The documentary, "Prisoner No. 626710 is Present", directed by filmmaker Lalit Vachani, was proposed to be screened by a group of students at the institute's KRB Auditorium at 8 pm on Friday.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in