Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj, previously titled Panjab 95, was taken down from Zee5 just two days after its release in India, bringing another twist to the film’s long and controversial journey. On Sunday, the streaming platform confirmed that the film was no longer available in the country and said it would explore ways to restore it for viewers.

The film, directed by Honey Trehan, is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Diljit plays the lead role in the project, which faced years of delays before finally arriving on OTT.

Zee5 removes the film, Diljit responds

In its statement, Zee5 said, “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. We are deeply grateful to every viewer who chose to subscribe, watch and champion the film.

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Your love and support have meant a great deal to us and to everyone who brought this story to life. At ZEE5, we stand firmly by ‘Satluj’ and the creative vision behind it. We believe powerful storytelling has the ability to inspire, endure and leave a lasting impact.”

Hours after the film was removed, Diljit shared a scene from the movie featuring Khalra and wrote, “I challenge the darkness,” before adding in Punjabi, “Panjab 95 aka Satluj is meeting the same fate as the late Khalra saab.”

Diljit had predicted the film could be taken down

The actor’s reaction came a day after he had spoken about the possibility during an Instagram Live session with fans.

When asked if he feared the film would be removed from the platform, Diljit replied, “Yes, there is. Just like there was surprise that it came on OTT in the first place. Today is Saturday. I feel it could be taken down by Monday. But no worry, you download it and watch. No issues.”

A film that faced years of hurdles

The film’s release had been delayed for nearly four years. After it was submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2022, the board reportedly sought 120 cuts. Its planned world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival was cancelled as the makers challenged those changes.

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Eventually retitled Satluj, the film was released uncut on Zee5. It tells the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated the cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab between 1984 and 1994 before disappearing in 1995. In 2005, four Punjab Police personnel were convicted for his abduction and murder, and two years later, the Punjab and Haryana High Court enhanced their sentence to life imprisonment.

FAQs:

Why was Satluj taken down from Zee5?

Zee5 said the film is unavailable in India until further notice due to “current developments.”

What is Satluj based on?

The film is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra.