Pirated copies of Satluj have begun circulating widely on messaging platforms and social media after the film was removed from ZEE5 in India just two days after its release. The development has sparked fresh concerns over digital piracy while reigniting debate over the film’s sudden takedown.
The Punjabi movie, which was initially released as ‘Punjab 95’, had its debut on the streaming website ZEE5 on July 3 without any marketing campaign. It was then pulled down from ZEE5 on July 5.
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The reason for its withdrawal has not been mentioned by the company, but it is being done “in light of the current developments.”
Piracy of the film has been reported on various digital platforms
It has been alleged that the pirated version of the film appeared on different websites, which include WhatsApp, Telegram, and YouTube.
One Telegram channel by the name “Satluj HD” was reported to be offering download links, while a YouTube channel has uploaded the entire film. Posts claiming to provide access to the movie also appeared on X (formerly Twitter).
ZEE5 has requested all users to stop watching or distributing the pirated film.
We are hopeful and doing everything we can. Please do not support piracy. We remain committed to exploring every possible avenue to bring Satluj back to you. 🙏#Satluj pic.twitter.com/oHlxHMaa99
— ZEE5Official (@ZEE5India) July 6, 2026
In a post made on X, the streaming site wrote, “We are hopeful and doing everything we can. Please do not support piracy. We remain committed to exploring every possible avenue to bring Satluj back to you.”
Jasbir Jassi claims film continues to circulate
Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi, speaking exclusively to NDTV, claimed that the film remains accessible outside India and has been widely shared through WhatsApp.
“People in America can watch it, and so can viewers in the rest of the world,” Jassi said. He further alleged that the film had been shared so extensively on WhatsApp that many users had received it multiple times.
Jassi also questioned the decision to remove the film from ZEE5, saying he did not believe Satluj contained material warranting such action.
A film surrounded by controversy
Satluj is based on alleged enforced disappearances and illegal cremations in Punjab during the 1990s.
Although it went by the name of Punjab 95, the film got submitted to CBFC in 2022 but never got certified. It had been claimed earlier that the CBFC wanted 127 cuts in the film for it to be certified. The film was also supposed to make its debut at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2023 but got canceled after protests by the Indian government.
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The film has been taken down off the ZEE5 app, but ZEE5 continues to claim support for it and has not said anything regarding when it will be back on the streaming service in India.
FAQs
Why was Satluj taken down from ZEE5?
ZEE5 has not disclosed the specific reason, stating only that the film was removed “in light of current developments.”
Where have pirated copies of Satluj leaked?
It has been reported that there have been leaked copies of the film on several platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, YouTube, and X.
