Unveils Trailer Of “Udaipur Files: The Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder”
In an official update shared on X, Reliance Entertainment shared, “An untold story that shook the soul of the nation. “UDAIPUR FILES – Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder” is a hard-hitting film based on the horrifying real-life incident the brutal daylight murder of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur. This film dives deep into the events, the silence, the outrage, and the battle for justice. A powerful true-story narrative. A voice for the voiceless. BASED ON TRUE EVENTS Inspired by the real-life murder of Kanhaiya Lal Sahu in Udaipur.”
Scheduled for theatrical release on 11 July 2025, the film is directed by Bharat S. Shrinate and produced by Amit Jani. It’s not just a cinematic retelling, but a powerful attempt to shed light on a tragedy that deeply impacted the nation. With a cast that includes Vijay Raaz, Rajniesh Duggal, Preeti Jhangiani, and Kamlesh Sawant, Udaipur Files aims to be an emotional and intense portrayal of the aftermath of violence. The filmmakers describe the project as “a voice for the voiceless,” supported by a screenplay co-written by Jayant Sinha and Amit Jani. The story intends to portray the heartbreak, anger, confusion, and silence that followed the horrific 2022 incident.
A Crime That Shook the Nation: The Murder of Kanhaiya Lal
On 28 June 2022, Kanhaiya Lal Teli, a modest tailor from Udaipur’s Dhanmandi area, was killed in an unthinkably violent act that left the entire country stunned. Two men, Muhammad Riyaz Attari and Ghaus Muhammad, entered his shop under the guise of being customers and viciously attacked him with cleavers. The chilling murder, carried out in broad daylight, was filmed by the perpetrators and shared online as a self-proclaimed act of retribution.
The attack was allegedly in response to Kanhaiya Lal’s support for a social media post related to Nupur Sharma, a BJP spokesperson whose controversial comments about the Prophet Muhammad had earlier sparked nationwide unrest—later referred to as the 2022 Muhammad remarks controversy.
The attackers first subdued Kanhaiya Lal while he was taking a customer’s measurements. They dragged him out of the shop and attempted to behead him using a handmade dagger, leaving him with multiple fatal stab wounds. A shop assistant named Ishvar was seriously injured while trying to intervene, but other bystanders were reportedly too shocked to help. The killers fled the scene on a motorcycle after escaping on foot.
Global Reaction and Government Response
Back in India, tensions escalated quickly. Udaipur witnessed protests and shutdowns, with around 7,000 people joining a silent march to demand justice. The Rajasthan government imposed a 24-hour curfew, restricted internet access across the state, and enforced Section 144 of the CrPC to prevent large gatherings. Several police officers were suspended due to alleged lapses in preventing the crime, though they were later reinstated.
The case was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), India’s leading anti-terrorism force, which arrested the accused in the Rajsamand district on the same day. Investigations uncovered links between the attackers and Dawat-e-Islami, a religious group based in Pakistan. Ghaus Muhammad had reportedly attended training sessions with the organization in Karachi in 2014. A detailed chargesheet has since been filed, and the suspects remain in judicial custody at Ajmer Jail.
In response to the tragedy, the Rajasthan government announced ₹50 lakh compensation for Kanhaiya Lal’s family and government jobs for his sons. Kapil Mishra, a BJP leader, visited the family on 2 July 2022, and pledged ₹1 crore, along with ₹25 lakh for the injured assistant Ishvar, and ₹5 lakh for a police constable hurt during subsequent unrest.
With its release on the horizon, Udaipur Files is set to revive public memory of a harrowing chapter in modern Indian history. The filmmakers hope the movie will not just retell a crime but also encourage deeper reflection on the social, communal, and emotional wounds left behind.