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Zee5 removed Satluj from its platform within two days of its release (Img: X)
New Delhi, July 6: Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj, a biographical drama based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has once again found itself at the centre of controversy after it was removed from streaming platform Zee5 just two days after its release.
The film, which underwent multiple title changes and a prolonged certification battle, has reignited discussions over Khalra's legacy and the depiction of Punjab's insurgency era.
Jaswant Singh Khalra was a Punjab-based human rights activist who gained national and international attention in the 1990s for investigating alleged illegal cremations and extrajudicial killings during the militancy period in Punjab. He claimed that thousands of unidentified bodies had been secretly cremated between 1984 and 1994.
Khalra was abducted in September 1995 and was allegedly killed in police custody. His body was never recovered. In 2005, four Punjab Police personnel were convicted for his abduction and murder. The Punjab and Haryana High Court later enhanced their punishment to life imprisonment.
Directed by Honey Trehan, the film chronicles Khalra's fight to expose the alleged human rights violations during Punjab's anti-insurgency operations. While inspired by real events, it fictionalises certain characters and names.
Originally announced as Ghallughara, the film was later renamed Panjab 95 following objections from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The makers challenged the board's suggested cuts in court after the CBFC reportedly sought multiple edits. Following years of legal proceedings and certification delays, the film was eventually released under the title Satluj.
Zee5 removed Satluj from its platform within two days of its release, stating that the film would remain unavailable in India "until further notice" due to ongoing developments. The platform said it was pursuing appropriate legal avenues to restore the film while reaffirming its support for the filmmakers and the creative vision behind the project.
The removal has once again brought attention to the long-standing debate over artistic freedom, censorship and the portrayal of politically sensitive events in Indian cinema.
