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Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Punjab 95’ release postponed amid controversy
The film which was originally set to release in 2022, has faced a series of setbacks, with the latest one being postponement of its uncensored international release set for February 7, 2025.
Punjab 95 official poster / Image- IMDb
Indian singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh’s much-anticipated film "Punjab 95," based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has been postponed once again, sparking debates about censorship in Indian cinema.
The film which was originally set to release in 2022, has faced a series of setbacks, with the latest one being postponement of its uncensored international release set for February 7, 2025.
Dosanjh took to Instagram to share the news, expressing regret over the delay. “We are very sorry and it pains us to inform you that the movie Panjab '95 will not be released on Feb.7 due to circumstances beyond our control,” he said.
Dosanjh also shared a photo of Khalra with a poignant quote: “I pray to the Guru, who identifies with truth, to keep this light lit.”
Censorship Controversy
In 2022, the Indian Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) demanded 120 cuts in the film and objected to its original title, "Ghalughara," leading to its renaming.
However, due to the intervention of apex Sikh religious body, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the film was allowed to proceed with just the renaming.
Despite this a trailer shared in 2022, was taken down in a day. Dosanjh shared a new trailer, earlier this month announcing the international release date as Feb. 7. The trailer, which amassed over 300,000 views, was also taken down from YouTube in India, raising concerns about censorship.
Political film
Directed by Honey Trehan and produced by Ronnie Screwvala, "Punjab 95" aims to shed light on this dark chapter of history. The film highlights Khalra’s investigative work, which exposed over 25,000 unlawful killings and mass cremations of Sikh youths by the Punjab Police during the militancy era.
His efforts led to his abduction and murder in 1995, for which several police officers were later convicted. According to reports, India’s political sensitivities over its portrayal of the Punjab militancy era further compounded the challenges, resulting in its removal from the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.
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