The family of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra is standing firm against the demands of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for significant cuts to the biopic Punjab ’95, which stars Diljit Dosanjh in the lead role.
The film sheds light on Khalra’s efforts to investigate the disappearances and killings of Sikh youth during the Punjab insurgency between 1984 and 1994.
The CBFC’s decision to request over 100 cuts, including renaming characters and removing references to Punjab and religious elements, has sparked outrage among Khalra’s family.
Jaswant Singh Khalra’s Wife Disappointed With Censor Board’s Actions
Paramjit Kaur Khalra, widow of the late activist, expressed her disappointment over the censor board’s actions. Speaking to mid-day, she criticised the move as an attempt to rewrite history. “The more you try to hide the truth, the more it will come out,” she remarked.
Paramjit emphasised that the film is based on public facts and court decisions, arguing that altering these facts in the movie is unnecessary and could provoke public anger.
She also warned that releasing a censored version would not only damage the film’s credibility but also stoke frustration among audiences.
Activists’s Daughter Also Reacts To Punjab ’95 Controversy
Her daughter, Navkiran Kaur Khalra, who also resides in the US, echoed these sentiments. She revealed that the family had initial reservations about the project, fearing opposition from the Indian government.
However, she was convinced by director Honey Trehan’s dedication to portraying the truth. “We watched the movie last year, and he stayed true, word for word, to what he committed in the script,” Navkiran said.
She described her heartbreak when the film, set to premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, was pulled due to the CBFC’s ongoing objections.
For the Khalra family, the changes demanded by the censor board would dilute the film’s integrity, rendering it no longer a biopic.
Navkiran is adamant that the film should be released as it was shown to the family. She highlighted that the incidents depicted in the film are already part of public knowledge, with many documentaries and news archives covering Khalra’s investigations.
She believes that the government’s attempts to censor the film set a dangerous precedent for artistic freedom. “If India wants to be a global power, it needs to allow open dialogue. In the US, films critical of the government have been made—this should be the same in India,” she added.
About The Controversy Surrounding Diljit Dosanjh Starrer Punjab ’95
The film, produced by Ronnie Screwvala and directed by Honey Trehan, has been in limbo with the CBFC since December 2022. Despite a planned meeting between the filmmakers and the board, there has been no resolution so far.
A source close to the project mentioned that a new Revising Officer is expected to be assigned soon, but there’s still no official word. With the film awaiting certification, the filmmakers remain frustrated, particularly as they had intended to release it this year, followed by an OTT deal.
For now, Punjab ’95 remains caught in a bureaucratic standstill, with no clear timeline for its release.
Stay tuned with us for latest news, Hindi box office news, Hollywood news, OTT news, latest bollywood news and latest box office news.
