Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Punjab 95 is caught amidst new controversy after the film’s director, Honey Trehan, recently revealed the reasons for the film’s delayed release, and the internet is shocked.
Inspired by the real-life story of human rights activist and bank manager Jaswant Singh Kalra from Amritsar, the film depicts Jaswant’s efforts in exposing the mass disappearances and extrajudicial killings of Sikhs by the Punjab Police during the militancy era of the 1980s–90s.
Jaswant’s investigations uncovered over 25,000 unlawful killings and secret cremations, leading to his abduction and murder in 1995.
According to director Honey Trehan, this film tries to shed light on this dark chapter from Indian history. Honey explained that the film was originally slated for release in February 2025 but faced repeated postponements due to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
CBFC allegedly intervened and demanded an unprecedented 127 cuts in the movie without any explanations. These cuts and changes included changing the name of the protagonist, removing visuals of the Indian flag, muting religious chants, and even altering the film’s title.
Honey explained that these changes were non-negotiable and fundamentally altered the film’s essence.
This battle also escalated internationally when Indian authorities demanded the filmmakers withdraw Punjab 95 from its scheduled world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.
The move drew criticism from Indian as well as international film communities, stating that censoring the movie was a clear jab at artistic freedom.
The incident has raised larger questions about how authorities often misuse censorship laws to suppress creative freedom that aims to bring forward the truth.
Cinema today often finds itself lacking any essence or feel because most of it is asked to be censored before people even see it or form their opinions. Many social media users feel that as long as the audience isn’t allowed to judge something for themselves, no one else should.
