Sikh genocide film gets global pirate screenings after India censorship

A much anticipated film on the life of Shaheed (martyr) Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra was finally released last week, only for India to then ban it completely, leading to global public pirate screenings in Sikh communities ever since.

After years of anticipation, the film starring Punjabi celebrity megastar Diljit Dosanjh was finally released on 3rd July on Zee 5 in India and those who subscribe to the channel overseas. However, it was then removed from the platform on 5th July in India and then also became unavailable via the platform globally too within the following week.

Originally titled “Punjab ’95”, the film suffered over three-years of editing via demands from India’s film censor board before the release, demanding hundreds of edits to the film which is meant to depict the work of Khalra, a revered figure who exposed India’s police-orchestrated anti-Sikh genocide with studious investigation, only to be murdered himself for it in 1995. An open advocate for Khalistan (the free Sikh homeland movement), despite his heroism, Khalra is viewed as an enemy of India to many nationalists, as is evident from the social media response from various Indian nationalist commentators to the film. However, the film itself completely erased this Khalistani aspect of Khalra’s activism.

Zee 5 released a statement after they took the film down, obscurely blaming “current developments”, whilst also saying they are attempting to bring the film back to the platform, requesting audiences refuse piracy. No update has come since, and countless groups since arranged public viewings via unofficial methods of streaming the film.

The film’s initial reception when it was available to view saw both new interest and reaffirmed support for Khalra, possibly triggering the decision to pull the film. Sikh community groups across the globe responded to the censorship with events to screen the film. Viewings have been held across Punjab and wider India, as well as in major Sikh diaspora hotspots such as Southall (West London, UK), Smethwick (Midlands, UK), Melbourne (Australia), California (USA) and beyond, with countless more viewings being arranged too.

Perhaps further underlining why the film was pulled, the Khalra story is reinvigorating activism amongst Sikh communities too, with focus on India’s Sikh genocide on Punjab, which many say continues still, with several recent accusations of Punjab Police carrying out “fake encounter” murders of innocent civilians who are branded criminals or terrorists after their death. A mass gathering has been organised in Punjab for 14th July, within which the widow of Khalra has stated demands for “accountability” will be raised, which include a new inquiry and financial support from leading Sikh body the SGPC for impacted families. See her statement in full here.

Despite the pirate popularity of the film, there are still strong criticisms towards it from Sikh commentators concerned with it watering down the systemic nature of India’s genocide and covering up Khalra’s support for Khalistan.

Read more on the life of Shaheed Bhai Khalra here.

Media inquiries for Sikh reaction to the film can be made to media@sikhpa.com.