As the controversy surrounding Diljit Dosanjh’s film ‘Satluj’ continues, veteran actor Annu Kapoor shared a dissenting opinion, supporting the government’s decision to ban the film and urging its makers to take legal recourse to the law instead of publicly criticizing the move.Satluj, directed by Honey Trehan and originally titled ‘Punjab 95’, premiered on ZEE5 on July 3 after remaining embroiled in a four-year battle with…
Central Board of Film Certification
(KBFC). However, the film was removed from the streaming platform within 48 hours following directions from the Government of India. While many members of the film fraternity have criticized the ban and raised concerns about censorship and creative freedom, Kapoor believes the matter should be settled through the legal system.If so, take it to court,” the actor said in an interview with Kadak
supreme court
. If the censor board declares such a film unacceptable, it should knock on the doors of the Supreme Court. There’s a proper channel to follow, right? What’s the point of crying over that?Responding to Diljit Dosanjh’s earlier comments about keeping art separate from politics, Kapoor said that filmmakers are aware from the beginning when they choose to make a film on a controversial topic.
He stressed that the appropriate procedure is to challenge the decision in court instead of appealing to public opinion.“You acted in the film, and the rules clearly state that if the Censorship Committee doesn’t give you a certificate, you have to go to the Supreme Court. Everyone knows that this is a controversial topic, and now you are begging the public for sympathy. Why indulge in self-pity? Go to the Supreme Court. What’s the point of crying over it?”Kapoor also defended the government’s concerns if he believed the film had the potential to disturb public order or national security.
Stressing that maintaining peace should take priority over releasing the film, he said: “Is chaos more important than releasing a film? Is this more important than burning roads in my country, setting fire to houses, burning mothers and sisters alive? What is more important? As a member of the film industry, I say that what matters most to me is that there is peace in my community.”
“Following the government’s directives, ZEE5 has removed ‘Satluj’ from its catalog and issued a statement explaining the decision.“In light 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 bring the film back to our audiences at the earliest opportunity.” Shortly after the film’s removal, pirated copies of the film began circulating online.In response to this development, an RSVP Movies spokesperson for co-producer Ronnie Screwvala confirmed to SCREEN that the government has ordered the film to be removed, expressing optimism that it will return to streaming soon.According to PTI, a government official said the film was originally submitted to the CBFC in 2022 under the title ‘Punjab 95’, but the makers refused to implement the 127 cuts suggested by the board. The official claimed that the film was later released directly on an OTT platform under a different title without obtaining CBFC certification. “They kept sitting on the proposed cuts and eventually quietly released the film on OTT with a new title.
OTT does not fall under the jurisdiction of the CBFC. When the matter came to the government’s attention, Zee was asked to delete it (the film). The direction was given due to security concerns. The OTT platform has been asked to follow obligations under the intermediary guidelines. If they want to release the film in theaters and over-the-top (OTT), they have to follow the laid down norms.Before the film was removed, director Hani Trehan expressed her gratitude to ZEE5 and the producers for standing by the project.
He also admitted that despite the battle that has been going on for years, he still does not know who objected to the film.“If someone asked me who had a problem with the movie, I don’t really know. I don’t have a face. I don’t have a name. Everything came through third parties or lawyers,” he told Mid-Day magazine.“Satluj” is based on one of the most turbulent chapters in Punjab’s history, examining enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and unlawful detentions linked to the state’s counterinsurgency operations against Khalistani militancy during the 1980s and 1990s. The film focuses on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, whose investigation eventually led to his disappearance.
Besides Diljit Dosanjh, the film features Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vaidya Ulyan in the lead roles.
