Archive · 24 Sep 2026
NALSAR Students Screen Umar Khalid Documentary After IIIT-Hyderabad Cancellation
Students at NALSAR University of Law showed a documentary about Umar Khalid.
The film is called “Prisoner No.
626710 is Present.”
Filmmaker Lalit Vachani directed it.
The students said they held the screening to show solidarity.
Earlier, students at IIIT-Hyderabad had planned to show the film, but that screening was cancelled.
Eight students connected with the group organising it received disciplinary warnings.
The film had not received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification.
The board said a public screening might break the law unless an exemption was granted.
Another planned screening at a Bengaluru law university was also reported cancelled after opposition from ABVP.
NALSAR University of Law students screened “Prisoner No. 626710 is Present” on campus late Wednesday.
Filmmaker Lalit Vachani directed the documentary about jailed activist Umar Khalid.
The screening followed IIIT-Hyderabad’s cancellation of a proposed September 18 screening and disciplinary warnings to eight students.
The Central Board of Film Certification said screening the uncertified documentary publicly could violate the Cinematograph Act without an exemption.
ABVP opposed a proposed screening at the National Law School of India University, which was later reported cancelled.
- Who
- Students at NALSAR University of Law, filmmaker Lalit Vachani, Umar Khalid, IIIT-Hyderabad students associated with No Tyrants, No Silence, the Central Board of Film Certification, and ABVP.
- What
- NALSAR students screened the documentary “Prisoner No. 626710 is Present,” after proposed screenings elsewhere were cancelled or opposed.
- When
- The NALSAR screening took place late on Wednesday evening; the report was published on September 24.
- Where
- NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad; related proposed screenings involved IIIT-Hyderabad and the National Law School of India University.
- Why
- The NALSAR students said their screening was organised in solidarity, following the cancellation of the IIIT-Hyderabad screening.
Screening Supporters
Institutional and Political Opponents
Whether the documentary should be screened
Screening Supporters
NALSAR students screened the documentary in solidarity, while the No Tyrants, No Silence platform sought to use it to initiate conversations on caste, merit and politics.
Institutional and Political Opponents
The Central Board of Film Certification said a public screening of the uncertified film could violate the Cinematograph Act without a specific exemption.
IIIT-Hyderabad campus event
Screening Supporters
Students associated with No Tyrants, No Silence proposed the screening at IIIT-Hyderabad.
Institutional and Political Opponents
IIIT-Hyderabad cancelled the proposed screening and issued disciplinary warnings to eight students, saying the platform was not authorised by the institute.
Bengaluru law university screening
Screening Supporters
The documentary had been proposed for screening at the National Law School of India University.
Institutional and Political Opponents
ABVP Bengaluru said the event was cancelled, and the report noted that the RSS-affiliated students’ body strongly opposed it.
- Documentary
- “Prisoner No. 626710 is Present”
- Director
- Lalit Vachani
- NALSAR screening
- Held late Wednesday evening in solidarity
- IIIT-Hyderabad action
- The proposed screening was cancelled and eight students received disciplinary warnings
- CBFC position
- A public screening of an uncertified documentary could violate the Cinematograph Act without a specific exemption
- Umar Khalid case
- He was arrested in September 2020 and booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
- Delhi riots figures
- The report says the February 2020 riots left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured
