Udaipur Files: A Controversial Take on Hate Crimes

A Film Mired in Controversy

This film faced significant delays due to scrutiny from the censor board, and it's easy to see why. The final product, after numerous cuts, presents a one-dimensional and inflammatory narrative about a naive tailor who meets a tragic end at the hands of individuals from a different community.

The erratic storytelling, partly influenced by censorship, implies collective guilt among an entire community for the depicted crime.

It's crucial to recognize that hate crimes transcend religious boundaries, and it is my hope that filmmakers and societal influencers can detach crime from religious affiliations.

In a particularly distressing scene, a malevolent cleric, portrayed with an exaggerated red beard, attempts to assault a teenage boy, who is secretly working for Indian Intelligence. The boy's resistance leads to a gruesome fate at the hands of the twisted cleric.

A law enforcement officer laments, 'If only there were more like him, then Muslims wouldn’t be viewed with suspicion.' This moment starkly reveals the film's failure to uphold its claims of impartiality, as it presents a harsh and biased depiction of a crime against humanity.

Co-directors Bharat S. Shrinate and Jayant Sinha, along with writers Amit Jani, Bharat Singh, and Jayant Sinha, have crafted a troubling narrative steeped in prejudice. The portrayal of one community is overwhelmingly negative, depicting its members as aggressive and violent without any nuance.

The film's most significant shortcoming lies not just in its overtly biased perspective but also in its lack of cinematic merit. The performances are largely subpar, with the exception of Vijay Raaz, who attempts to bring some depth to the glorified role of the tailor.

Interestingly, he is credited as 'Superstar Vijay Raaz,' which speaks volumes about the film's overall quality.