Kathmandu - The Government of Nepal has barred the public screening of the Indian film "Udta Teer" across the country, after the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology directed the Central Film Censor Board not to grant the movie permission for release. The directive was issued through a letter sent by the ministry's audio-visual and broadcasting branch on 30 Asar 2083 BS, corresponding to mid-July 2026, according to reports by Khabarhub, Global Aawaj and Nepal Views.
With the instruction in place, the censor board will not clear Udta Teer (also reported as "Udta Tir") for exhibition, effectively imposing a nationwide ban on its screening in Nepali cinemas. The ministry stated that the film was made in violation of the law on film censorship and exhibition, the legal framework that governs how motion pictures are cleared and shown in Nepal.
Ministry Directive Blocks Screening Permission
Letter to the film's distributor
The ministry's communication went to National Cine Group Nepal Pvt. Ltd., the company serving as the Indian film's distributor in Nepal. In the letter, the ministry stated that Udta Teer had been made in violation of the country's law on film censorship and exhibition.
By addressing the distributor directly, the government ensured that the company responsible for bringing the film to the Nepali market was formally notified of the ban before any release could proceed. The letter, dated 30 Asar 2083 BS, was issued by the ministry's audio-visual and broadcasting branch, the unit that handles oversight of film and broadcast-related matters.
Instruction to the censor board
On the basis of that finding, the ministry instructed the Central Film Censor Board, the authority responsible for granting public screening permission, not to issue clearance for the film. The decision means the censor board cannot legally approve Udta Teer for release, and the film consequently cannot be shown in theatres anywhere in Nepal.
The key elements of the directive are as follows:
- A nationwide ban on the public screening of the Indian film Udta Teer in Nepal.
- Written instruction from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology to the Central Film Censor Board.
- A clear directive not to grant public screening permission for the film.
- Formal notification to the film's Nepali distributor, National Cine Group Nepal Pvt. Ltd.
- The stated reason: the film was made in violation of the law on film censorship and exhibition.
- The letter was issued by the ministry's audio-visual and broadcasting branch on 30 Asar 2083 BS.
Censor Board Holds the Gate for Film Releases
In Nepal, films intended for public exhibition are required to obtain permission from the Central Film Censor Board before they can reach cinemas. The board's clearance is the decisive administrative step between a distributor acquiring a film and audiences being able to buy tickets to watch it.
By directing the censor board to withhold that clearance, the ministry has closed off the legal route for Udta Teer to appear on Nepali screens. The notification to the distributor, National Cine Group Nepal Pvt. Ltd., ensures the company was informed of the government's position before any release plans could advance further.
The move also underlines the extent of government oversight in Nepal's film sector. Because screening permission flows through the censor board, a directive from the ministry is sufficient to block a film's exhibition nationwide, meaning commercial arrangements for a release cannot proceed without board approval.
What the Ban Means for Distributors and Theatres
For National Cine Group Nepal Pvt. Ltd., the letter removes the possibility of releasing the film in the Nepali market. As the film's distributor in the country, the company was the direct recipient of the ministry's communication and is now on formal notice that the film cannot be publicly screened.
For cinema operators across Nepal, the ban means Udta Teer cannot be scheduled, advertised or exhibited. The prohibition covers the whole country, leaving no scope for regional or venue-specific exceptions under the current directive.
The ministry's stated grounds rest on the law governing both film censorship and film exhibition. Under that framework, the government's position is that the violation occurred in the way the film itself was made, prior to any question of screening permission arising.
Government Oversight of Audio-Visual Content
The audio-visual and broadcasting branch of the ministry functions as the regulatory arm for the country's audio-visual sector, and the Udta Teer case shows that branch acting directly on a film matter. The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology sits at the top of Nepal's media regulation structure, and its directives carry binding weight for bodies such as the censor board.
For Indian films seeking Nepali audiences, the case demonstrates that clearance is not automatic. A film that the ministry determines was made in violation of the law on film censorship and exhibition can be shut out of the market entirely through a single ministerial instruction, regardless of distribution arrangements already in place.
As it stands, the government's position is unambiguous. The Central Film Censor Board has been told not to grant public screening permission, the distributor has been informed in writing, and the ban on the public screening of Udta Teer applies across Nepal.
