After nearly three years of uncertainty, delays and censorship hurdles, Diljit Dosanjh’s much-awaited film Satluj, formerly titled Punjab ’95, has finally reached audiences. The film began streaming on ZEE5 Global on July 3, with the actor confirming that it has been released in its original form despite a prolonged battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
The film, directed by Honey Trehan, is inspired by the life of late human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. While its title has changed over the years, the makers maintain that the content remains untouched.
Diljit Dosanjh says the film is completely uncut
Addressing fans during an Instagram Live session after the film’s release, Diljit clarified that the only change made was the title.
“Our film has finally been released on Zee5. Unfortunately, we couldn’t keep the original title Punjab 95 for certain reasons, so it is now called Satluj. But there are absolutely no cuts in the film. The version I watched in theatres two years ago is exactly the same one I watched at home last week. If even a single cut had been made, I would not have promoted the film,” he said .
The film was initially announced as Ghallughara, later renamed Punjab ’95 during the certification process, and has now been released as Satluj.
Honey Trehan says the film remains unchanged
Director Honey Trehan also joined the livestream and reiterated that the version available to viewers is the same one that was completed before the certification process.
He revealed that Paramjit Kaur Khalra, wife of Jaswant Singh Khalra, watched the film again after its release and confirmed that it had not been altered.
“Paramjit aunty also shared a post about the film and said this is the very same version she had watched earlier. Only the title has changed,” Trehan said.
Also Read | Aamir Khan says his wedding to Gauri Spratt on July 5 will be ‘gharelu’
Why Satluj faced a long delay
The film was submitted to the CBFC in late 2022 but remained stuck in the certification process for years. According to earlier reports, the board had sought 127 changes, including altering the lead character’s name, removing visuals of the Indian flag and deleting references to the Punjab Police.
Also Read | Alpha day 1: Alia Bhatt’s spy thriller earns ₹3 crore early
Honey Trehan had previously said the team received fresh objections after every revised submission, making the certification process increasingly difficult. At one stage, he had indicated that he would rather remove his name from the project than agree to the proposed changes.
What is Satluj about?
Satluj is inspired by the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra, the human rights activist known for investigating the alleged disappearance of thousands of Sikh youths during Punjab’s militancy years. His work brought international attention to alleged illegal cremations and enforced disappearances, making his story one of the most significant human rights narratives from the period.
FAQs
Why was Punjab ’95 renamed Satluj?
The film was released as Satluj after the makers could not retain the title Punjab ’95.
Did the CBFC cut scenes from Satluj?
According to Diljit Dosanjh and director Honey Trehan, the film has been released without any cuts.
