Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Satluj’ faces another blow; Honey Trehan Film Output Removed From ZEE5 International Catalog – Reports
Diljit Dosanjh’s film ‘Satluj’ faced another setback after a Centre-appointed committee recommended continuation of restrictions imposed on the film.As reported by The New Indian Express, the committee concluded that the action taken against the film was justified, citing concerns regarding India’s sovereignty, integrity and national security.
Directed by Honey Trehan, it is inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The film explores his investigation into the alleged illegal burning of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab between 1984 and 1994. It also depicts the events leading up to his kidnapping and murder in 1995.The recommendation comes soon after the film was removed from streaming in India. This development has once again put Satluj in the national spotlight and sparked fresh controversy over the decision.
The film was removed from OTT shortly after its release
‘Satluj’ premiered on ZEE5 on July 3 after facing years of delay before its digital release. However, the film remained available to Indian audiences for less than two days before it was removed from the platform. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting later began a detailed review of the film. An Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) has been constituted under the IT Rules, 2021, to examine the content and recommend the next course of action.
According to reports, the committee concluded that blocking the film under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act was appropriate. This clause enables the government to restrict online content for reasons such as sovereignty, integrity, defence, national security, public order and relations with foreign countries. Reports also claimed that the committee found the narrative to be unbalanced. She reportedly thought the film downplayed the actions of militants while focusing more on alleged abuses committed by security forces during the years of militancy in Punjab.
Political backlash continues in Punjab
The controversy over Satluj also aroused political interest in Punjab. Many organizations and political leaders expressed differing opinions about the government’s decision. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) urged the authorities to remove the restrictions imposed on the film. Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal has announced plans to organize screenings of the film across Punjab to support its release.The committee that reviewed the film reportedly included officials from multiple ministries. These included information and broadcasting, home affairs, defence, electronics and information technology, foreign affairs, women and child development, and law and justice.
The film is disappearing from OTT abroad as well
The recent development has extended beyond India. ‘Satluj’ has now also been removed from ZEE5’s international catalogue, making it unavailable for viewers abroad as well.
Director Hani Trehan confirmed the removal while responding to SCREEN. When asked if the film had been censored internationally, he simply replied: “Yes.” Earlier, after the film was shelved in India, ZEE5 had issued an official statement which said: “In view of the current developments, Satluj will not be available in India until further notice.
We are committed to exploring all appropriate avenues through due process to return the film to our audiences at the earliest opportunity.
The film remains at the center of discussion
The removal of ‘Satluj’ from Indian and overseas bookstores has intensified conversations around the film. Social media users continued to discuss developments, while the future of the project remains uncertain. The film revisits one of the most sensitive chapters in Punjab’s modern history through the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra. Diljit Dosanjh leads the cast, while Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vaidya Ulyan play important roles.Currently, no announcement has been made regarding when or if ‘Satluj’ will return to air.
