Amid Diljit Dosanjh controversy over ‘Satluj’, National Award-winning director Gurvinder Singh says Honey Trehan’s film was targeted for its frank storytelling
The controversy surrounding Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Satluj’ continues to stir up controversy, with director Gurvinder Singh now considering removing the film from Zee5 soon after its July 3 premiere. While Singh described the censorship as “disheartening”, he believes the film’s direct and uncompromising depiction of its subject made it vulnerable to such action.The film “Satluj”, directed by Hani Trehan, is inspired by the life of…
human rights
Activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated alleged extrajudicial killings in Punjab during the 1990s.Speaking to Mid-Day magazine about the ongoing controversy, Gurvinder Singh admitted that the film’s fate reflects the current social and political climate. While he sympathized with the filmmakers, he also felt that they may have expected such challenges given the nature of the subject matter.“The censorship that the film went through is disappointing. But that is the reality of the times we live in [Trehan] She should have been prepared [for this]He said.
Gurvinder Singh says the film’s straightforward narrative requires scrutiny
The National Award-winning director notes that there are alternative ways of telling the story that may have met with less resistance. However, he acknowledged that Hani Trehan deliberately chose a strict tone to maximize the film’s impact.
“There were other ways to tell the story,” Singh said, explaining his point of view. [That way] The government could have said: “Dekhne do logo ko”. When the government sees my films, they feel, “Main kya hai?” Smoke me do. But Honey’s approach was that the film had to have that impact and reach everyone. In that context, it’s a very good film. But the film has this whole problem because it’s so obvious, because the government knows it will interest people of different faiths for different reasons.
“Recalling his experience of watching “Satluj” during a premiere in Chandigarh, Gurvinder Singh said the film left a lasting emotional impact on him, even though the storytelling style differed from his own filmmaking sensibilities.“It’s not my type of film because it doesn’t leave you anything to imagine. It shows everything clearly, and it’s okay if the director feels that’s the way to tell the story in the most emphatic way.”
What happened at that time made me angry. They succeeded in doing so.”
The film “Stogue” remains at the center of the censorship debate
Since Zee5 removed ‘Satluj’ just days after its digital premiere, the film has become the focus of a larger conversation about censorship and creative freedom. Many members of the film community, along with political leaders, have questioned the decision to pull the film, as the debate continues to gain momentum across the country.
