Diljit Dosanjh’s film ‘Punjab 95’ has been entangled in the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for three long years, with no clear update on its release. Directed by Honey Trehan, the film is inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Recently, Diljit shared an article on social media that discussed the portrayal of Sikhs in cinema, comparing ‘Dhurandhar 2’ with ‘Punjab 95’.
In his post, Diljit emphasized a particularly striking line: “Diljit Dosanjh is celebrated when he does a patriotic film like Dhurandhar 2. But his biopic on human rights defender Jaswant Singh Khalra has been stuck with the CBFC for three years.” He opted to share this thought-provoking piece without any additional commentary.
What is ‘Punjab 95’ about?
Directed by Honey Trehan, the film showcases Diljit Dosanjh as Khalra. Despite being completed years ago, ‘Punjab 95’ remains unreleased in India. The narrative delves into Khalra’s investigations surrounding illegal cremations and enforced disappearances during the counter-insurgency operations in Punjab throughout the 1990s. The CBFC has requested significant cuts to the film, which the creators believe would undermine its storyline.
In December of last year, Ranjit Singh, a retired judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and a human rights advocate, urged for the film’s release without edits. Singh, who is now the chairman of the restructured Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO), stated that the film’s representation of Khalra’s custodial killing is deeply rooted in documented evidence and judicial findings, asserting that it is neither speculative nor exaggerated.
He remarked, “The film is very close to reality and portrays events that have been substantiated through evidence. These facts need to be shared. I find no reason to object to any portion of the film. What it showcases is real and backed by existing records. In my opinion, ‘Punjab 95’ should be released without any cuts.”
Timeline of the Film’s Journey:
– Early 2021: Filming begins.
– Mid 2022: Principal photography concludes.
– December 2022: Submitted to the CBFC for certification.
– 2023–24: No certification or release date provided.
– September 25, 2024: Reports indicate CBFC suggests nearly 127 cuts.
– January 2025: Overseas release announced, then canceled shortly before the date.
– 2025: Creators refuse to make cuts, threatening to remove credits if alterations are mandated.