The Center has directed OTT platform ZEE5 to remove the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer “Satluj”, citing “security concerns” and “obligations” under IT Rules 2021, government sources said on Monday, even as political parties in Punjab and the Sikh apex body SGPC pressed for its release and the actor-singer asked people to watch it wherever and however they can.
‘Satlog’ has been removed citing IT Rules, 2021
The film “Satluj” narrates the details of the life of activist Jaswant Singh Khalra in Punjab during the turbulent 1990s, when the country was reeling under the weight of terrorism, and he remained stuck in censorship for more than three years. The film was released uncut on ZEE5 on Friday, and the film was removed from the platform on Sunday evening.OTT content does not fall under the purview of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and is regulated under the provisions of Part III of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
‘Sutlej’ removed due to ‘security concerns’
The makers of ‘Sutlej’ had applied for CBFC certification in 2022 under its original title ‘Punjab 95’, but they did not accept the 127 cuts proposed by the watchdog and refrained from issuing it, a government official said.“They continued to sit on the proposed cuts and eventually quietly released the film on OTT with a new title. OTT is not under the jurisdiction of the CBFC. When it came to the government’s notice, Zee was asked to delete it (the film).”
“The direction was given due to security concerns. The OTT platform has been asked to follow the obligations under the intermediary guidelines. If they want to release the film in theaters and via OTT, they must follow the laid down norms,” the official told PTI.
Diljit Dosanjh Encourages fans to download the movie
This will inevitably happen, Dosanjh said on Monday, while ZEE5 issued an appeal asking people not to support piracy as the film has already been downloaded by many.The film, directed by Honey Trehan, delves into the life of Khalra, who investigated the cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab over a 10-year period from 1984 to 1994.
He was kidnapped in 1995 and has never been seen since. In 2005, four Punjab Police personnel were convicted of Khalra’s kidnapping and murder and sentenced to seven years in prison. Two years later, the Punjab and Haryana High Court increased their sentences to life imprisonment.On Friday, the film quietly arrived on ZEE5 without any discounts but with a different title and without any promotions, which Dosanjh said was because they did not want to spoil any slim chance of the film.
Political parties rally behind “Stolog”
The matter quickly gained political momentum, with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Congress and Punjab’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) condemning the dropping of the film from the OTT platform, saying the state should confront its past.Kulwant Singh Manan, principal secretary of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), said people should know what happened during those days in Punjab.“What would be wrong if the reality is shown and the public gets to know what happened during those days in Punjab,” Manan told PTI over phone.Condemning the “arbitrary removal” of the film, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said: “Efforts to hide the atrocities committed by the government against Sikhs can never succeed.“Today the esteemed courts issue punishments to the police officers of that time. How can anyone turn their back on these court decisions?” – asked Dami.Criticizing the removal of the film, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said: “This is not just censorship, it is an assault on our collective memory, truth and freedom of expression…
Punjab deserves to confront its past with honesty, not oppression.”This was echoed by senior Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khera.“I strongly condemn the removal of ‘Satluj’, a film directed by Diljit Dosanjh on police brutality in the kidnapping and elimination of Professor Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist, in 1995,” he said.AAP leader and MP Malvinder Singh Kang said censorship becomes its most dangerous weapon when a nation begins to fear its history.“The younger generation wants to know what happened in Punjab during 1978, 1984, 1990s and other crucial periods. If they are deprived of books and documentaries, films become an important means of preserving historical truth,” AAP’s Baltej Bano said.When asked to comment on the online removal of the film, Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon said, “I know the reason. We are dealing with it.”In an extended session on Instagram Live from the United States, where he is on tour, Dosanjh expressed his suffering.“I had a feeling on Friday that something like this would happen. This was already on my mind. It’s not something that’s shocking about (the ban). I thought it would be banned on Monday when the offices open…“But I had no idea that it would happen on Sunday evening itself. We didn’t even promote the film, we released it this way. If we had promoted it, it wouldn’t have lasted even two days. But I am satisfied that people have watched the film, it has reached them,” Dosanjh said in Punjabi.“It was very important that it reached you and that’s what happened… I’m grateful that what we wanted to say and the way we wanted to say it was conveyed. It’s your movie and you can watch it the way you want,” he said.“This was the only way to show the film… without saying anything because this was bound to happen,” Dosanjh said, adding that the more one tried to stop the film, the more popular it became because nothing disappears from the internet, not even a voice note sent via Whatsapp.
ZEE5 had a slightly different take.
The company said in a post on Instagram: “We are doing our best to bring Satlog back. Please do what you have to do – do not support piracy. We are committed to exploring all possible ways to bring Satlog back to you.”“In light of current developments, ‘Satluj’ will not be available in India until further notice…” it said on Sunday night.The streamer did not specify what he meant by “current developments,” but said that the response to the film has been overwhelming and that they fully support the creative idea behind the film.
‘Satluj’ released after delays
In 2023, the film was scheduled to have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), but was removed from the list without any official statement from the organizers.‘Punjab ’95’ was scheduled to release worldwide on February 7, 2025, without any cuts, except in India. But this version also did not happen. This issue also resonated on social media.Referring to former CBFC president Prasoon Joshi in a post, comedian Kunal Kamra said that Khalra has been kidnapped again, “this time by the CBFC”.“Once again the industry as a whole is silent about what should be disturbing and affecting us all. How can we compromise our right to tell stories… especially such powerful, sensitive stories,” director Onir wrote.Director Anurag Basu said on Channel X that he never imagined that Trehan would face something similar to what Iranian director Jafar Panahi faced in his country.
