The controversy surrounding Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj has widened beyond India. Days after the film was taken off ZEE5 in the country, it has now disappeared from the platform’s international catalogue as well, prompting fresh reactions from viewers overseas.

Originally titled Punjab 95, the film had premiered on ZEE5 last Friday after facing nearly four years of delays linked to certification and censorship issues. While it was removed in India within 48 hours following government directions, it had remained available for international audiences until now.

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Satluj, starring Diljit Dosanjh, is no longer available on ZEE5 internationally | Instagram
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Director confirms international removal

Director Honey Trehan confirmed that the film has also been taken down outside India.

When contacted by SCREEN about its disappearance from ZEE5’s international library, he replied with a brief, “Yes.”

The removal was first noticed by users on social media. On X, one user posted, “So it’s been removed internationally as well.”

On Reddit, several users also reported that Satluj was no longer accessible outside India. One post claimed the move showed “efforts to censor and remove the film are still ongoing.”

Some users said the controversy had increased public interest in the film. Others noted that pirated copies had already begun circulating online, with one user writing that the filmmakers “deserved to earn a dime out of it.”

Why was the film taken down?

After Satluj was removed in India, ZEE5 issued a statement explaining its decision.

“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,” the platform said.

RSVP Movies, the production house led by Ronnie Screwvala, also confirmed the development through a spokesperson, saying, “The government has pulled it down,” while adding that the team hoped the film would return “hopefully soon.”

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According to PTI, a government official said the film had originally been submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2022 as Punjab 95. The official said the makers did not agree to the board’s proposed 127 cuts and later released the film on OTT under a different title without CBFC certification. The official added that ZEE5 was asked to remove the film because of security concerns.

Story based on Jaswant Singh Khalra

Satluj is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and revisits Punjab’s militancy period, focusing on disappearances, alleged extrajudicial killings, illegal detentions and the reported cremation of unidentified bodies during counter-insurgency operations.

Before the film’s removal, Honey Trehan told Mid-Day, “If somebody asks me who had a problem with the film, I genuinely don’t know. I don’t have a face. I don’t have a name. Everything came through third persons or lawyers.”

The film features Diljit Dosanjh alongside Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan.

FAQs:

Is Satluj still available on ZEE5 outside India?

No. Director Honey Trehan has confirmed that the film has also been removed from ZEE5’s international library.

Why was Satluj removed from ZEE5?

ZEE5 said the film was made unavailable in India due to current developments, while a government official cited certification and security concerns.