SAD Resolves to Screen Diljit Dosanjh's Satluj
Officials cited national security concerns under the Information Technology Rules of 2021. The film remains available to stream on Zee5 outside India.
Streaming service Zee5 recently removed the Hindi-Punjabi film 'Satluj' from its platform in India just two days after its release. The move triggered a sharp political debate in Punjab. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) condemned the removal. The party announced plans to screen the movie across the state. In response, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticized SAD. AAP accused them of aligning with forces responsible for historical injustices against Punjab and the Sikh community. Congress MLA Pargat Singh also slammed the decision, calling it selective censorship.
The film is directed by Honey Trehan. It stars Diljit Dosanjh, Arjun Rampal, and Suvinder Vicky. The biographical drama follows the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. During the militancy era in Punjab, Khalra investigated thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings and secret illegal cremations. He mysteriously disappeared in 1995. Multiple Punjab Police officials were later convicted for his abduction and murder.
The film faced many hurdles before release. It was originally titled 'Ghallughara' and later 'Punjab 95'. The Central Board of Film Certification demanded over 120 cuts. To bypass these edits, the producers skipped theatres and released it directly on OTT under the name 'Satluj'. However, reports state the Central Government directed Zee5 to pull the film down. Officials cited national security concerns under the Information Technology Rules of 2021. The film remains available to stream on Zee5 outside India.
