NALSAR students screen documentary on activist Prisoner No. 626710 is Present
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Students during the screening of “Prisoner No. 626710 is Present” at 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, the controversial documentary on activist Umar Khalid, arrested in connection with the 2020-Delhi riots and charged under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, on its campus on Wednesday.
The event, according to a NALSAR official, was not authorised. The collective of students who organised the event themselves said they had not approached the administration for permission, “to get away from the procedure and an eventual denial,” as recently witnessed in institutions such as National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, and International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT-H).
A small poster, showing a person releasing a bird from its cage, circulated on students’ WhatsApp groups a few days ago was all the invite: “Come attend the screening of Prisoner No. 626710 is Present. 8.30 p.m. Turf.”
Students, speaking to this correspondent, said that sudden rain on Wednesday discouraged a large gathering. About 30 to 40 students, with umbrellas and some under the roof shelter, were present for the screening.
“The screening was a space for solidarity and conversation. The film’s questions are about rights, accountability, and the human cost of prolonged incarceration, while solemnly standing in support of those affected by these failures of the justice system, including the Supreme Court,” a brief statement circulated to media outlets by students noted.
According to Jwala, a second-year student, the film was an opportunity for dialogue and education: “As students, we understand the concerns surrounding how delays in taking up cases affect justice, and how the media trial characterised Khalid’s and Sharjeel Imam’s cases. In Khalid’s case, six years in custody without trial is a denial of justice, where the law is used as a tool of violence without conviction.”
A senior student among the organisers, Chinnasamy, presents the argument surrounding film certification and screening. “This was a private, student-only screening to bring students together and reflect on the various aspects the film shows. The Cinematograph Act doesn’t come into play because this was not for public exhibition. Even under the Copyright Act, as per Section 52 (1) J, it was for education and limited to students.”
But, “it appears that the same forces who made Khalid’s life miserable are also trying to restrict this screening. They think universities are only for degrees and not dialogue and dissent. The screening was also in solidarity with NLSIU and other places, where screening was cancelled. We are making this event public now, to evoke inspiration in other universities,” Chinnasamy said.
Prisoner No. 626710 is Present, directed by Lalit Vachani with a run time of 60 minutes, remains uncertified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the statutory film-certification body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
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