BBC Releases Moosewala Documentary Amid Legal Battle
Controversial Film Surfaces on Singer’s Birthday
A documentary examining the life and death of Punjabi singer **Sidhu Moosewala** was unexpectedly released on YouTube by the BBC World Service, preempting a planned screening in Mumbai and escalating a dispute with the artist’s family. The release coincides with what would have been **Moosewala’s** 31st birthday.
Family Seeks to Block Documentary’s Release
The release follows a petition filed by **Moosewala’s** father, **Balkaur Singh**, in a Mansa court, requesting a stay on the documentary’s distribution. The family remains deeply opposed to the film’s content, fearing it will further traumatize them and potentially jeopardize ongoing investigations into the singer’s murder.
According to court records, the matter was adjourned to June 12, leaving the documentary’s legal status uncertain. **Satinder Pal Singh Mittal**, counsel for **Balkaur Singh**, stated on Tuesday, “The matter is now sub judice. We are hopeful that the documentary will not be made public.”
Documentary Details and Controversial Interview
The BBC has released two parts of the investigation. The first, ‘The Killing Call’, explores **Moosewala’s** ascent to fame and the controversies that marked his career. The second focuses on the circumstances surrounding his murder on May 29, 2022, in Jawahar Ke village, Mansa district.
A particularly contentious element of the documentary is an audio interview with **Goldy Brar**, a suspected mastermind behind the killing. **Brar** remains at large and is accused of orchestrating the hit. The BBC states the documentary features interviews with friends, journalists, and senior police officials from Punjab and Delhi.
The BBC World Service described the film in its YouTube description: “On 29 May 2022, Punjabi singer **Sidhu Moosewala** was murdered by hired hitmen who followed his car, shot him through the windscreen, and left him to die. As news of the killing spread across India and around the world, a gangster named **Goldy Brar** claimed responsibility for the hit. But three years later, no one has been convicted of this murder, the motives remain murky, and **Goldy Brar** is still on the run. BBC Eye Investigations has been talking to some of the people closest to **Sidhu Moosewala**, tracing his rise from obscurity to stardom, finding out how he made enemies of India’s most feared gang, and asking why they wanted him dead.”
The documentary also delves into **Moosewala’s** connections to the hip-hop scene in eastern Canada and the complex political landscape of Punjab. It adds, “It’s a story that takes us from the villages of rural India to the hip-hop scene of eastern Canada, from the turbulent history of Punjab to the contested politics of modern India, and from the shadowy world of organised crime to a chilling phone call with the fugitive gangster who says he ordered the hit. Based on hours of unseen archive and exclusive access to **Sidhu’s** friends and musical collaborators, the film features voices that have never spoken to the media before.”
Rising Gang Violence in India
The case highlights a concerning trend of escalating gang violence in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, reported cases of organized crime increased by 28% between 2020 and 2022 (NCRB Data), raising concerns about law enforcement’s ability to contain these criminal networks.
The family is expected to release a collection of **Moosewala’s** previously unreleased songs on Wednesday, marking his birth anniversary. **Moosewala** was born on June 11, 1993.