ZEE5 removes Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj two days after India release

MUMBAI: It was a short stream before the current stopped flowing. Just two days after its long-awaited release, Satluj, starring Diljit Dosanjh, has been removed from ZEE5 in India, reigniting a years-long debate over censorship and creative freedom.

The biographical drama, previously titled Punjab ’95 and originally announced as Ghallughara, premiered directly on ZEE5 on Friday, 3 July, after spending more than three years caught in certification disputes. The film skipped a theatrical release and arrived on the platform in its uncut form.

A day later, during an Instagram Live session, Dosanjh told fans he feared the film would be removed by Monday and urged viewers to download it while it was available. His prediction proved accurate sooner than expected.

On Sunday, 5 July, ZEE5 withdrew the film from its Indian catalogue, saying it would remain unavailable “until further notice”.

In a statement, the streaming platform said the response to Satluj had been overwhelming and reaffirmed its support for the film and its makers. However, it added that “in light of current developments”, the title had been taken down while it explored appropriate legal and procedural options to restore access. The film is reportedly still available to audiences outside India through ZEE5 Global.

Satluj tells the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra, the Punjabi human rights activist who investigated the alleged enforced disappearances and illegal mass cremations of thousands of unidentified bodies during Punjab’s militancy period between 1984 and 1994. Khalra himself disappeared in 1995, and several police officers were later convicted for his abduction and murder.

Dosanjh has previously described portraying Khalra as the most emotionally demanding role of his career, saying he needed a week away from work after filming to recover from the psychological impact of the character.

The film has faced obstacles since 2022. According to the makers, the Central Board of Film Certification sought more than 120 changes before certification, including altering the original title, removing references to Punjab and changing the real-life identity of the protagonist.

The controversy also affected its international rollout. In 2023, the film was withdrawn from its scheduled premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival amid continuing certification issues and reported political pressure.

To preserve the film’s original version, director Honey Trehan and producer Ronnie Screwvala chose to bypass cinemas and release it directly on ZEE5 under the new title Satluj. That strategy, however, lasted less than 48 hours before the film disappeared from the platform in India.

Responding to the takedown, Dosanjh shared a clip from the film on Instagram alongside a message in Punjabi, writing, “#ichallengethedarkness. Shaheed Jaswant Singh Khalra Ji. #Panjab95.” He added that what happened to Khalra’s voice decades ago was now happening to Satluj, suggesting that the story continued to face suppression.

Trehan also expressed disappointment over the decision, saying he was devastated by the abrupt removal, particularly after the film had received strong audience appreciation and positive reviews during its brief availability.

With the film once again off screens in India, Satluj has returned to the centre of a debate that extends beyond cinema, raising fresh questions about certification, artistic expression and the space available for politically sensitive storytelling.