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The film Satluj, inspired by the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist who investigated enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during Punjab's separatist insurgency, has been pulled from the streaming platform ZEE5 in India following government directions. The removal, days after its release, has reignited debate over state control of historical narratives and censorship of artistic expression.

Coverage Comparison

Satluj, originally titled Punjab 95, was released on ZEE5 on July 3, only to be withdrawn from the platform's Indian catalogue within 48 hours. ZEE5 said the film would be unavailable in India "until further notice" due to "current developments," without elaborating. A spokesperson for the film's producer, RSVP Movies, told the Indian Express that the removal was on government orders, as reported by the BBC. The government has not publicly commented on the decision.

The film's star, Diljit Dosanjh, addressed the removal in a live social media video, saying he had expected the film to be taken down—but not so quickly. "What I had already expected is exactly what happened. I thought the film might get banned when [government] offices opened on Monday, but I didn't know it would happen as early as Sunday evening," he said. Dosanjh noted that the uncertainty surrounding the film's release was why its makers had kept promotions to a minimum, adding that if they had promoted the film, "it would definitely not have been released at all."

Despite its brief availability, Satluj received strong reviews, with The Hollywood Reporter describing it as "one of the finest Indian films of the year," according to the BBC.

Key Claims

  • Satluj is based on the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist who investigated enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during Punjab's insurgency in the 1980s and early 1990s. Khalra, a bank employee in Amritsar, began investigating the disappearance of a friend and her mother and ultimately uncovered thousands of similar cases, as reported by Al Jazeera.
  • Khalra alleged that police secretly cremated nearly 25,000 disappeared people without informing their families or maintaining official records. His investigation led to the discovery of thousands of unidentified bodies cremated under official supervision, and his work compelled India's highest institutions to acknowledge grave violations of law, according to a single report by Dawn. Six Punjab Police officials were convicted for Khalra's abduction and murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, as reported by the BBC.
  • The film was blocked by India's censor board for three years. The board ordered a change in the film's name and demanded nearly 130 cuts before allowing a theatrical release, as reported by Al Jazeera and Dawn. The filmmakers refused the cuts and instead released the film on ZEE5, only for it to be removed 48 hours later on security grounds, according to Al Jazeera.
  • The film was removed from ZEE5 following government directions issued under the Information Technology Rules, 2021, as reported by Dawn. The effect was that Indian audiences were denied access to a film that remained available internationally.

Perspectives

Indian government: The government has not publicly commented on the removal of Satluj from ZEE5. ZEE5's statement cited "current developments" for the film's unavailability, while Dawn reported that government directions under the Information Technology Rules, 2021, prompted the withdrawal. The BBC has contacted the federal information and broadcasting ministry for a response.

Filmmakers and star: The filmmakers refused the censor board's demands for cuts, arguing they would compromise the historical truth at the heart of the film, as reported by Dawn. Actor Diljit Dosanjh expressed gratitude that audiences had a chance to see the film, despite its brief availability, and said he had expected its removal, as reported by the BBC.