BBC Releases Sidhu Moosewala Documentary ‘The Killing Call' Despite Father's Protest (Image: X/Sidhu Moosewala)
The BBC World Service has released a two-part documentary titled The Killing Call on YouTube, chronicling the meteoric rise and tragic assassination of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. The timing and nature of the release have drawn strong criticism from Moosewala’s family, who accuse the BBC of bypassing their consent and exploiting the artist’s legacy for sensationalism.
The release, which took place on June 11, Moosewala’s birth anniversary, went ahead despite a court case filed by his father, Balkaur Singh, seeking to block its broadcast.
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In legal documents submitted to a Mansa court, Singh argued that the documentary infringes upon the family’s privacy and could potentially interfere with the ongoing criminal trial surrounding Moosewala’s murder. However, the presiding judge, Rajinder Singh Nagpal, declined to grant a temporary stay, scheduling a full hearing for June 12.
documentary of #SidhuMooseWala released by BBC, Balkaur Singh said that despite his opposition to the DOC, DOC has been released today, due to which he is disappointed. He had also sent a legal notice. Despite this, the channel has released the documentary. pic.twitter.com/NQ8OtOjBkn
— Parmeet Bidowali (@ParmeetBidowali) June 11, 2025
The BBC had originally planned a public screening of The Killing Call in Mumbai on June 11, aligning with Moosewala’s birthday. But amid rising protests and mounting legal pressures, the screening was called off, and the film was quietly uploaded to YouTube instead.
The two-part documentary delves into Moosewala’s complex public life from his village roots in Punjab to his controversial stardom in India and Canada, and ultimately, to the violent end he met in May 2022.
The singer, whose real name was Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, was gunned down in broad daylight in Punjab’s Mansa district, only a day after his police security was controversially withdrawn. The 28-year-old was riddled with over 30 bullets while sitting in his vehicle. The assassination sent shockwaves not only through India but across the global Punjabi diaspora.
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Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar, allegedly affiliated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, later claimed responsibility for the murder in a chilling public statement. Brar has since been declared a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency but remains at large.
Balkaur Singh, still visibly grieving over the loss of his son, has consistently voiced opposition to any portrayal of Moosewala’s life that lacks the family’s input.
His legal plea also names two individuals associated with the documentary, Ishleen Kaur and Ankur Jain, holding them accountable alongside the BBC. According to Singh’s lawyer, Satinder Pal Singh, the family was never contacted for permission, nor were they allowed to participate or vet the documentary’s content.
Singh further alleged that prior to the film’s release, promotional materials and invitations had been circulated boasting that the film would reveal “unknown details” about the late singer—an approach he calls deeply disrespectful and potentially damaging to Moosewala’s image.
Despite filing complaints with the Director General of Police in Maharashtra and the Juhu police station, Singh claims there has been no official response from law enforcement authorities to date.
‘The Killing Call’ offers an expansive look at the life and death of Sidhu Moosewala, blending interviews with journalists, friends, and police officials from Punjab and Delhi.
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The first episode traces Moosewala’s upbringing, musical journey, and controversies, many of which drew criticism from both politicians and law enforcement. The second instalment focuses on the murder itself, the days leading up to it, and the alleged involvement of organised crime.
One of the most talked-about segments features an audio interview with fugitive gangster Goldy Brar, where he directly claims responsibility for ordering the hit.
The BBC describes the film as “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.”
The case now hinges on the court’s full hearing, where the family hopes to obtain legal recognition of their claims and potentially force the documentary to be taken down.
