The Punjab 95-turned-Satluj vanished from Indian screens on ZEE5 barely 48 hours after its premiere, with the platform citing vague “current developments” and reports pointing to fresh objections over the film’s subject.
Diljit Dosanjh’s long-delayed film has run into trouble yet again — this time after it finally reached audiences. ZEE5 has withdrawn Satluj from its India platform, just two days after the film premiered on July 3, with the title now showing as unavailable to Indian viewers “until further notice.”
The sudden takedown comes despite the film drawing what the platform itself called an “overwhelming” response from viewers in its opening weekend.
2 Days on ZEE5 before removal
127 Cuts sought by CBFC
3+Years in censorship limbo
What ZEE5 Said
In a statement posted to its social media handles, ZEE5 thanked viewers for their response while confirming the film’s withdrawal. The platform said it remained committed to the project and was working to resolve whatever issue had triggered the pause.
“In light of the current developments, Satluj will be unavailable in India until further notice. We remain committed to exploring every appropriate avenue through due process to bring the film back to our audiences at the earliest opportunity.”ZEE5, Official Statement
The platform did not specify what those “current developments” actually were. It also did not clarify whether the pause was a result of a legal notice, a government directive, or an internal compliance decision.
A Film That Was Never Going To Have An Easy Run
Satluj’s troubles did not begin with its OTT release. The film was originally shot and completed under the title Punjab 95, built around the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated and exposed alleged extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances during Punjab’s counter-insurgency operations in the 1980s and 1990s.
The film spent close to three years stuck with the Central Board of Film Certification, which reportedly sought 127 cuts before it could be cleared for release. The dispute even reached the Bombay High Court in 2023, though the producers later withdrew that case. Director Honey Trehan has said the makers eventually accepted the cuts demanded by authorities and released the film under a new title, Satluj, insisting throughout its first two days online that what audiences were watching was the film’s original, uncut vision.
Who Was Jaswant Singh Khalra
Jaswant Singh Khalra was a Punjab-based human rights activist known for documenting mass cremations and alleged unlawful killings carried out by police during counter-insurgency operations against Khalistani militancy. He disappeared in 1995 and was later confirmed to have been killed in police custody, a case that remains a significant reference point in Punjab’s human rights history.
Political Reactions Begin
The removal has already drawn political criticism. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal called the takedown “arbitrary,” describing Satluj as a film that “courageously unveils Punjab’s painful history” and arguing that pulling it amounted to more than routine censorship.
Reports across entertainment outlets suggest the film’s subject matter prompted swift external objections after release, which in turn pushed ZEE5 into an internal legal and compliance review. The platform has not confirmed the source or nature of these objections.
Where Things Stand
As of Sunday evening, Satluj remains inaccessible to viewers in India, though reports indicate it continues to stream in select international markets. ZEE5 has not given a timeline for when, or if, the film will return for Indian audiences, saying only that its “review process” is ongoing.
