Archive · 18 Sep 2026
IIIT Hyderabad Cancels Umar Khalid Documentary Screening After CBFC Objection
Students planned to show a documentary about Umar Khalid at IIIT-Hyderabad.
The film is called “Prisoner No.
626710 is Present” and was directed by Lalit Vachani.
The Central Board of Film Certification said the film had not been certified for public screening.
It said showing the film publicly could break the Cinematograph Act unless an exemption had been obtained.
The screening was planned for the institute’s KRB Auditorium on Friday evening.
IIIT-Hyderabad said the screening and auditorium booking were cancelled.
The institute also said it had not given permission and had not organised the event.
A similar screening at a Bengaluru law school was postponed after opposition from ABVP.
The Central Board of Film Certification said publicly screening the uncertified documentary could violate the Cinematograph Act without a specific exemption.
The documentary, “Prisoner No. 626710 is Present,” was proposed by students for 8 p.m. Friday at IIIT-Hyderabad’s KRB Auditorium.
IIIT-Hyderabad said the screening and venue booking were cancelled and that no permission had been sought.
The institute said neither it nor its recognised student organisations had organised or hosted the screening.
A similar screening at NLSIU Bengaluru was postponed after ABVP opposition, with organisers citing logistical and security considerations.
- Who
- The Central Board of Film Certification, IIIT-Hyderabad, student organisers, filmmaker Lalit Vachani and Umar Khalid are central to the matter.
- What
- A proposed screening of the uncertified documentary “Prisoner No. 626710 is Present” was cancelled at IIIT-Hyderabad after a CBFC objection.
- When
- The CBFC raised its objection on Thursday; the screening had been scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, September 18, 2026.
- Where
- The proposed screening was to take place at KRB Auditorium, IIIT-Hyderabad; a related screening was postponed at the National Law School of India University in Bengaluru.
- Why
- The CBFC cited legal restrictions on publicly exhibiting uncertified films, while IIIT-Hyderabad said no permission had been sought for the event.
Regulatory and Institutional View
Student and Opposing-Organisation View
Legality of screening
Regulatory and Institutional View
The CBFC said publicly exhibiting a film that had not received certification would violate the Cinematograph Act unless a specific exemption had been obtained.
Student and Opposing-Organisation View
The reports describe a student-proposed screening but do not state that the organisers had obtained a specific exemption.
Institute involvement
Regulatory and Institutional View
IIIT-Hyderabad said no permission was sought and that neither the institute nor its recognised student bodies organised or hosted the screening.
Student and Opposing-Organisation View
The event was proposed by a group of students for an institute auditorium; the institute said students and faculty may interact in their individual capacities without representing the institute.
NLSIU Bengaluru screening
Regulatory and Institutional View
ABVP demanded that the postponed screening be permanently cancelled, alleging that it would use the campus for political propaganda.
Student and Opposing-Organisation View
The student-run Law and Society Committee said it postponed the event for logistical and security reasons, denied that it was backing down because of pressure, and said it would hold the screening later.
- Documentary
- “Prisoner No. 626710 is Present”
- Director
- Lalit Vachani
- Proposed venue
- KRB Auditorium, International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad
- Screening status
- Reports said the screening was cancelled, and IIIT-Hyderabad said the venue booking was also cancelled.
- CBFC position
- The board said public screening of an uncertified film violates the Cinematograph Act unless a specific exemption has been obtained.
- IIIT-Hyderabad position
- The institute said no permission had been sought and that neither it nor its recognised student organisations organised or hosted the event.
- Related event
- A screening at the National Law School of India University in Bengaluru was postponed after opposition from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.
Sources
What happened to Umar Khalid documentary screening at IIIT Hyderabad after CBFC flagged the uncertified film
CBFC objects to proposed screening of Umar Khalid documentary at IIIT-Hyderabad
Umar Khalid Documentary Screening At IIIT Hyderabad Cancelled After CBFC Flags Violation
IIIT-H distances itself from Umar Khalid docu screening after CBFC flag
CBFC flags screening of Umar Khalid documentary at IIIT-Hyderabad
