Support for the highly anticipated film Punjab ’95, starring Diljit Dosanjh, has emerged from an unexpected place. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has thrown its weight behind the Honey Trehan-directed biopic on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra in the face of stifling censorship demands from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Recent reports have revealed that the CBFC has demanded nearly 120 changes to the biopic, including renaming the film and altering the protagonist’s character. Gurcharan Singh Grewal, the General Secretary of the SGPC, has spoken out against these recommendations, expressing dismay at the extent of the requested edits.
Grewal, surprised by the CBFC’s stance, highlighted that the film is centered on Jaswant Singh Khalra, a significant figure who played a pivotal role in uncovering the tragic fates of numerous Sikh youths who disappeared during the Punjab insurgency from 1984 to 1994. “The job of the CBFC, in my understanding, is to eliminate anything that questions the country’s unity, that attacks faith or incites violence. We stand with the film. Jaswant Singh Khalra was a people’s man. He was beyond party lines. What would they get from removing his name from a film based on his work? Why should the title be changed? This is a part of Punjab’s history,” said Grewal.
Portrayed by Diljit Dosanjh in the film, Khalra’s story is essential to understanding a dark chapter in Punjab’s history. Khalra’s investigative work revealed clandestine operations by police death squads, who abducted, tortured, and cremated unidentified bodies, often without any formal record or recognition of the deceased. Grewal emphasized the importance of Khalra’s legacy, “In Amritsar alone, he identified over 2,000 Sikh men who were unaccounted for. I know people who have received compensation from the court because of his work.”
Grewal lamented the potential consequences of the CBFC’s cuts, questioning the film’s integrity post-edit. “After 120 cuts, what will remain of the film?” To him, the suggested edits represent not just a dilution of the film’s narrative but an erasure of a critical piece of Punjab’s history.
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The nature of these edits has ignited a broader conversation about the autonomy of artistic expression in India. Grewal criticized the idea of art becoming a tool of the ruling party, noting that the essence of filmmaking should remain pure and untainted by political influence. “This film is important because it is about a people’s man. This is not The Kashmir Files [2022] or The Kerala Story [2023]. Did they suggest removing [Narendra] Modiji’s name from his biopic or [Vinayak Damodar] Savarkar’s name from his biopic?”
The backing from the SGPC is seen as a significant boost for the film’s advocates, many of whom are fighting to preserve the original narrative of Khalra’s life and work. Khalra’s investigations into human rights abuses led to substantial evidence being unearthed, which resulted in legal actions and some victims’ families receiving compensation. His contributions to exposing police excesses during the insurgency period have made him a revered figure in human rights circles.
The CBFC’s actions have now propelled the film into the national spotlight, reigniting debates about censorship and historical representation in Indian cinema. Critics argue that such extensive cuts undermine the film’s core message and dilute the impact of Khalra’s courageous endeavors.
In solidarity with those who oppose the CBFC’s heavy-handed approach, several prominent personalities and organizations have voiced their concerns. Maintaining that the film must be seen in its unaltered form, they argue that it honors not only Khalra’s memory but also the ongoing struggle for human rights and justice.
Punjab ’95 serves as more than just a biopic; it is a testament to a man’s brave efforts to unveil the truth buried under the chaos of political violence and state oppression. It remains to be seen if the CBFC will reconsider its stringent demands in the face of the rising tide of opposition.
As the dialogue around the film continues to unfold, one thing is clear— the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra, portrayed by Diljit Dosanjh, has struck a chord far beyond the confines of censorship debates. It has rejuvenated a necessary discourse on the preservation of historical integrity and the protection of artistic freedom in India’s ever-evolving cinematic landscape.
