Umar Khalid
626710 is Present”, directed by filmmaker Lalit Vachani, was proposed to be screened by a group of students at the institute’s KRB Auditorium at 8 pm on Friday. HYDERABAD: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) objected to the proposed screening of a documentary on jailed activist Umar Khalid at IIIT-Hyderabad, saying screening an uncertified film would violate the Cinematograph Act unless an exemption had been granted, according to news agency PTI reported.
Sources said the students have now decided to cancel the screening. “Public screening of a documentary film that has not yet been certified by the CBFC is a violation of the Cinematograph Act unless a specific exemption has been sought under the Act,” the CBFC posted on X. Tagging IIIT-Hyderabad, the CBFC said the institute’s authorities “may take note for necessary action”. In a statement, the institute said it “categorically clarifies that neither the Institute nor any of its recognised student clubs, cells or organisations has organised or hosted any screening of any film uncertified by the Central Board of Film Certification”. “IIIT Hyderabad has established processes governing official events and activities on campus, and any claim attributing an unauthorised or unrelated activity to the Institute or its recognised student bodies is factually incorrect,” it said.
The documentary, “Prisoner No. IIIT-H, however, distanced itself from the proposed screening, saying neither the institute nor any of its recognised student bodies had organised or hosted a screening of an uncertified film.