Satluj pulled from ZEE5 two days after release amid censorship row

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Satluj pulled from ZEE5 two days after release amid censorship row

BBC World · 1 day ago

Satluj, a film starring the Indian singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh, was abruptly pulled from the streaming platform ZEE5 just two days after its release, triggering a row over apparent censorship. The film is inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated alleged enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during Punjab's separatist insurgency before he himself was abducted and murdered in 1995. ZEE5 said the film would be unavailable in India "until further notice" owing to "current developments" but gave no further explanation, while the producer, RSVP Movies, said it had been removed on government orders. The government has not publicly commented.

The film has faced a long and troubled path to release. Completed in 2022, it never reached cinemas because of a protracted dispute with India's Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), whose demands for changes reportedly grew from 21 to 127 proposed cuts, including a new title and the removal of references to Khalra. Originally titled Ghallughara and later Punjab '95, the film was withdrawn from the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival amid the unresolved certification issues. After nearly three years in limbo, its makers opted to bypass cinemas and premiere it directly on ZEE5 as Satluj, which director Honey Trehan said was released "without any cuts or compromises". Despite its brief availability, it drew strong reviews.

  • Diljit Dosanjh film Satluj pulled from ZEE5 two days after release.
  • Producer says removal was on government orders; government has not commented.
  • Film about murdered activist Khalra faced years of certification disputes.

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Originally published by BBC World as “Why a Diljit Dosanjh film vanished from streaming after two days”.