On Tuesday, the BBC World Service released a two-part documentary titled The Killing Call on YouTube, delving into the life and murder of Sidhu Moosewala, the iconic Punjabi singer whose death sent shockwaves across India and the diaspora. The release went ahead even as his father, Balkaur Singh, attempted to block its broadcast through a court petition in Mansa.
Originally planned for a public screening in Mumbai on June 11 — which marks Moosewala’s birthday — the documentary’s release shifted online amid rising legal pressures and public controversy.
Civil Judge Rajinder Singh Nagpal, who heard Singh’s petition, declined to issue a temporary injunction to stop the documentary. The case will now proceed to a full hearing scheduled for June 12. In his filing, Singh named the BBC and two individuals, Ishleen Kaur and Ankur Jain, as respondents.
According to the family’s lawyer, Satinder Pal Singh, they fear the documentary may interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation and infringe on their privacy. Prior complaints had already been lodged with Maharashtra’s Director General of Police and the Juhu police, with Singh alleging the BBC used Moosewala’s name, likeness, and personal story without consent. He also objected to promotional messages claiming the documentary would reveal “unknown details” about his son, suggesting this could harm Moosewala’s legacy. So far, authorities in Maharashtra have not responded to those concerns.
The Killing Call chronicles Moosewala’s rise from a village in Punjab to international stardom, as well as the events leading up to his violent death. The first episode explores his early life, musical success, and controversies, while the second dives into the circumstances surrounding his assassination on May 29, 2022, in Punjab’s Mansa district.
The BBC describes the series as a narrative that stretches from rural India to Canada’s hip-hop scene, touching on Punjab’s turbulent past, modern Indian politics, and the underworld of organised crime — culminating in a chilling phone interview with the fugitive gangster who claims he ordered the killing.
The documentary features interviews with Moosewala’s friends, journalists, and law enforcement officials from both Punjab and Delhi. It also includes an audio interview with Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar, who took responsibility for the murder.
Moosewala, born Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, was gunned down in broad daylight while travelling without security. The 28-year-old was ambushed by attackers who fired over 30 bullets, leaving him lifeless behind the wheel. Brar, alleged to be part of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, later claimed the hit and has since been declared a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency. The case remains unsolved, with Brar still at large.
