June 11, 2025: On what would have been Sidhu Moosewala’s 31st birthday, two vastly different tributes to the slain rapper shook the internet, one artistic, the other investigative, both controversial in their own right.
A posthumous mixtape titled Moose Print dropped across platforms, delivering three previously unreleased tracks, 008, Take Notes, and Neal, featuring Moosewala’s unmistakable vocals and introspective lyrics. At the same time, the BBC World Service released a two-part documentary titled The Killing Call, chronicling the events surrounding Moosewala’s murder and the global impact of his life and music.
But while fans celebrated the music, the documentary’s release sparked tension and backlash, particularly from Moosewala’s family, who claim it was published without their approval.
Sidhu Moosewala “The Killing Call” The Documentary That Defied a Father’s Plea
The BBC’s The Killing Call went live on YouTube Tuesday morning, bypassing a planned public screening in Mumbai after a legal petition was filed by Moosewala’s father, Balkaur Singh. He sought a court order in Punjab to stop the broadcast, citing concerns over privacy and potential interference with the ongoing murder trial.
The Mansa civil court declined to grant a temporary injunction, scheduling a full hearing for June 12. Singh’s lawsuit names the BBC and filmmakers Ishleen Kaur and Ankur Jain, alleging they used Moosewala’s likeness and story without the family’s consent.
In legal complaints submitted to Maharashtra police, Singh claimed that promotional materials for the documentary promised “unknown details” about his son’s life and death, a promise he argues could be both misleading and damaging.
An Intimate Portrait and a Global Crime Story
According to the BBC, the documentary traces Moosewala’s journey from rural Punjab to the underground hip-hop scene in Canada, and from stardom to a violent end that shocked the nation. The second part of the film focuses on the events surrounding his assassination on May 29, 2022, and includes exclusive audio of a phone call with fugitive gangster Goldy Brar, the man who has openly claimed responsibility for the killing.
“It’s a story that connects rural India to Canadian suburbs, music to politics, and fame to organized crime,” reads the documentary description.
Moosewala, born Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, was ambushed and fatally shot while driving near his village in Mansa district. Gunmen fired over 30 bullets into his vehicle. He was 28 years old.
New Tracks, Familiar Voice
While the documentary stirred debate, Moose Print brought fans together in celebration. The mixtape was released on Moosewala’s official YouTube channel and Spotify, with production credits going to The Kidd, Mrxci, Jay B Singh, and Moosewala himself.
Within hours, the tracks had crossed millions of streams, as fans around the world flooded comment sections with tributes, emojis, and lines from his songs. For many, it felt like hearing from a friend one last time.
Cultural Icon or Political Target?
More than two years after his death, Sidhu Moosewala’s story remains unresolved. His killers are yet to be convicted, and Brar, now labeled a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency, remains at large.
Moosewala was no stranger to controversy in life, his music touched on caste, politics, gun culture, and identity in ways that divided listeners and galvanized a generation. In death, that legacy continues to spark both admiration and outrage.
A Day of Dual Tributes
June 11 marked not just a remembrance, but a cultural reckoning. One release amplified Moosewala’s artistry. The other interrogated the forces that may have cost him his life. Whether you’re tuning in for the beats or the backstory, one thing is clear: Sidhu Moosewala remains a voice too powerful to silence.
