Trailer of ‘Udaipur Files’ sparks outrage over Islamophobic content

Bollywood is once again facing backlash for promoting anti-Muslim sentiment, following the release of the trailer for its upcoming film ‘Udaipur Files’, which has sparked outrage for its portrayal of Muslims and Islam in a negative light.

Initially slated for release on June 28, the film is now scheduled to hit cinemas on July 11, according to the production team. The trailer, however, has already drawn severe criticism for what many describe as a blatant attempt to incite religious hatred and defame the Muslim community.

The short preview features characters making inflammatory remarks about Muslims, their places of worship, and Islamic beliefs, with scenes that many viewers say are designed to provoke and demonise.

The plot of the film is based on the murder of a tailor named Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, Rajasthan, but critics argue that it wrongfully paints Muslims as terrorists and portrays Islam in a distorted, negative manner.
Some also noted that the trailer contains anti-Pakistan sentiments. 

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The film is produced by Amit Jani, a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and directed by Bharat S Sharanate. The cast includes Mushtaq Khan, Ehsan Khan, Preeti Jhangiani, and Rajneesh Duggal, among others.

Following the trailer’s release, several political leaders, civil society members, and social media influencers have called for an immediate ban on the film, warning that its release could fuel hatred, deepen communal divides, and incite violence against Muslims in India.

Critics have labeled the film “deeply Islamophobic” and part of a growing trend in Indian cinema of using propaganda narratives that marginalise religious minorities.