NALSAR students screen a documentary on activist Prisoner No. 626710 is Present

Students during the screening of the film ‘Prisoner No. 626710 is Present’ at the NALSAR University of Law campus in Hyderabad on September 23.

A group of students at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad screened Prisoner No. 626710 is Present, a controversial documentary on activist Umar Khalid, arrested in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots and charged under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, on its campus on Wednesday.

The action was not authorized according to the NALSAR official. The collective of students who organized the event themselves said that they did not approach the administration for permission to “escape the procedure and possible rejection”, as was recently witnessed in institutions such as the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru and the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT-H).

A small poster showing a person releasing a bird from a cage that circulated on student WhatsApp groups a few days ago was an invitation only: “Come attend the screening of Prisoner No. 626710 is present. 8.30pm Lawn.”

Students who spoke to this correspondent said the sudden rain on Wednesday deterred the large gathering. About 30 to 40 students attended the screening with umbrellas and some under shelter.

“The screening was a space for solidarity and conversation. The film’s questions are about rights, responsibility and the human cost of long-term incarceration, while solemnly standing up for those affected by these failures of the justice system, including the Supreme Court,” the students said in a brief statement sent to the media.

According to Jwala, a second-year student, the film was an opportunity for dialogue and education: “As students, we understand the concerns of how delays in the initiation of proceedings affect justice and how the media process has characterized the cases of Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. In the case of Khalid, six years in detention without trial is a denial of justice, where the law is used as an instrument of violence.”

A senior student among the organizers, Chinnasamy, presents arguments regarding the certification and screening of the film. “It was a private screening for students only, for students to meet and think about the different aspects the film shows. The Cinematography Act does not come into play because it was not for public screening. Even under the Copyright Act, under Section 52 (1) J, it was for education and limited to students.”

But “it seems that the same forces that made Khalid’s life miserable are also trying to curtail this screening. They think universities are only for degrees and not for dialogue and dissent. The screening was also in solidarity with NLSIU and other places where the screening was cancelled. We are now publicizing this event to inspire other universities,” Chinnasamy said.

Prisoner No. 626710 is present directed by Lalit Vachani for 60 minutes remains uncertified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), a statutory film certification body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

(Student names have been changed to protect privacy)

Published – 24 Sep 2026 20:40 IST