ZEE5 has taken Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj down from its India catalogue just two days after the film premiered on the platform, setting off fresh questions around one of the most closely watched releases in recent memory.

The streamer confirmed that the title, which had been released in India on July 3, would not be accessible to viewers in the country for the time being.

The film was removed “until further notice.” The platform’s statement was posted on Instagram after the response to the film’s release.

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A polite bow before the pause

In its statement, ZEE5 thanked viewers for the response and said it stood by the film and the people behind it. The platform said, “The response to Satluj since its release has been truly overwhelming,” and added that it was grateful to those who subscribed, watched, and supported the film.

It also said it stood “firmly by Satluj and the creative vision behind it,” before clarifying that, “In light of the current developments, Satluj will be unavailable in India until further notice.”

ZEE5 added it remained committed to exploring “every appropriate avenue through due process” to bring the film back to Indian audiences.

An old controversy returns to centre stage

The film’s removal is the latest turn in a long and turbulent release history.

Satluj was originally titled Punjab 95 and is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who exposed alleged illegal cremations of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab during the insurgency years.

The film was submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2022 and remained caught in the certification process for nearly three years. The filmmaker had alleged that the CBFC sought 127 cuts.

The film was eventually released on ZEE5 under the new title Satluj.

Festival setback and uncertain future

The controversy had already affected the project well before its OTT debut. The film had been scheduled to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023, but that screening was cancelled after objections were reportedly raised by Indian authorities.

The film had skipped a theatrical release in India and had only recently arrived on streaming after years of delay and a prolonged battle with the censor board.

Satluj stars Diljit Dosanjh in the lead role, alongside Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky, and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan.

For now, the platform’s latest statement leaves the film in limbo, with no timeline given for when it might return to Indian viewers.

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FAQs

Q1: Why was Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj removed from ZEE5 in India?

Ans: ZEE5 said Satluj has been made unavailable in India “until further notice” due to current developments, without providing further details.

Q2: What is Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj about?

Ans: Satluj, originally titled Punjab 95, is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra.