The BBC World Service released a two-part investigative documentary on late Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moose Wala, on June 11, the day marking his birth anniversary. The release came even as Moose Wala’s father, Balkaur Singh Sidhu, had moved a Mansa court in Punjab seeking a stay on the screening. The court is scheduled to hear the petition on June 12.
Family Appeals Against BBC’s Unauthorised Release
Despite the family’s efforts to block the release and promote their own tribute — an extended play (EP) of unreleased tracks — the BBC went ahead and dropped the film on YouTube. The documentary includes interviews with Moose Wala’s childhood friends, journalists, and senior police officials, along with a chilling audio call with gangster Goldy Brar, the accused mastermind behind the May 29, 2022 assassination in Jawahar Ke village, Mansa.
Originally, the BBC had planned a public screening at a Mumbai cinema on the evening of June 11. However, following public backlash and the family’s objections, the broadcaster shifted the release to YouTube.
Inside the Two-Part Documentary
Titled The Killing Call, the first episode of the documentary traces Moose Wala’s rise from a rural Punjabi village to international stardom, highlighting the controversies that followed him. The second episode investigates the circumstances around his murder, the alleged involvement of criminal syndicates, and the state of the investigation.
In the YouTube description, the BBC wrote,
“On 29 May 2022, Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala was murdered by hired gunmen who tracked his car, shot him through the windshield, and left him to die. Afterward, gangster Goldy Brar publicly claimed responsibility for the killing. But nearly three years later, no one has been convicted, the motives remain unclear, and Brar is still at large…”
The broadcaster further claimed the film is:
“A story that spans rural Indian villages, Canada’s hip-hop scene, the complex history of Punjab, and the evolving political climate in India.”
It also includes unseen archival material and exclusive interviews with Moose Wala’s friends and collaborators.
Father’s Legal Action and Objection
Speaking to India Today, Balkaur Singh confirmed the family’s opposition to the release:
“We objected over the documentary and the release is without our consent. We have taken the matter to the Mansa court but will soon move the High Court on this.”
Earlier, Singh had also filed a complaint with the Maharashtra Director General of Police and Mumbai’s Juhu Police Station. He noted that the BBC had planned a screening on June 11 at 3 PM and had sent out invites claiming it featured unreleased and exclusive facts.
He further alleged that the documentary might tarnish his son’s image and legacy.
