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    EYE ON BOLLYWOOD                                                          JULY 17, 2026    |  The Indian Eye 38

              ‘Satluj’ Sparks a National Row:

                         The Film, the Ban and the

                                      Battle Over History

                From certification disputes to human rights, free speech and Punjab’s troubled past, Diljit

             Dosanjh’s Satluj has ignited one of India’s most contentious film controversies in recent years.

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            right to tell difficult stories, while actor
                                                                                                                  Ranvir Shorey described the removal
            Mumbai
                                                                                                                  as “utterly disappointing.” Former
                     hat  was  expected  to  be                                                                   cricketer Harbhajan Singh praised
                     a powerful biographical                                                                      Khalra’s courage in exposing alleged
            Wfilm  on  the  life  of  human                                                                       human rights violations, writing that
            rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra                                                                  “Truth cannot remain buried forever.”
            has instead become the centre of a                                                                        Diljit Dosanjh himself said he
            nationwide debate over censorship,                                                                    had  anticipated  that  the  film  might
            historical memory and freedom of                                                                      face restrictions. “What I had already
            expression.Just two days  after pre-                                                                  expected is exactly what happened,”
            miering on ZEE5, Satluj, starring                                                                     he said during an Instagram live ses-
            Diljit Dosanjh, was taken down from                                                                   sion after the film was removed. He
            the streaming platform in India, trig-                                                                revealed that uncertainty surrounding
            gering sharp reactions from political                                                                 the project had influenced the team’s
            leaders, filmmakers, actors and mem-                                                                  promotional strategy, saying they be-
            bers of the Sikh community.                                                                           lieved extensive publicity might have
                At the heart of the controversy                                                                   prevented the release altogether. De-
            lies a disagreement over whether the                                                                  spite the setback, the actor expressed
            film was released without completing   Originally titled Ghallughara, it was later renamed Punjab 95 during the certification process   satisfaction that audiences had al-
            the required certification process and                                                                ready watched and downloaded the
            whether its removal amounts to the                  before finally being released as Satluj (File)    film,  adding  that  community  screen-
            suppression of an important chapter                                                                   ings  at  gurdwaras had  brought  him
            in India’s recent history.        tention largely because of the sub-  screened, not banned.”         immense joy.
                According to the Ministry of In-  ject  matter. Satluj tells  the  story of   The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Man-  The actor also described the proj-
            formation and Broadcasting, the film   Jaswant Singh Khalra, the Punjab   agement Committee also criticised   ect as the culmination of nearly seven
            did  not  possess  the  required  certifi-  human rights activist who exposed   the removal, saying Khalra’s work   years of work marked by repeated
            cation for theatrical release. Ministry   alleged illegal killings and secret cre-  exposed evidence of thousands of al-  delays, halted shoots and production
            officials alleged that instead of com-  mations during the militancy and   leged illegal cremations and helped   challenges. Director Honey Trehan,
            plying  with  the  certification  process,  counter-insurgency period in Punjab   bring international attention to events   he said, had dedicated years of re-
            the  filmmakers  changed  the  title   during the late 1980s and early 1990s.  in Punjab. The committee announced   search and personal commitment to
            and released the film directly on an   Khalra disappeared in 1995 and was   plans for public screenings and ed-  bringing Khalra’s story to the screen.
            OTT platform. The Ministry further   allegedly kidnapped, tortured and   ucational seminars to ensure the   The controversy has also revived
            claimed  that  the  certification  body   killed by Punjab Police officials. Fol-  story continued to reach audiences.  discussion about the film’s long jour-
            had recommended nearly 100 cuts   lowing a Supreme Court-ordered CBI    Political reactions quickly followed   ney to release. Originally titled Ghal-
            and said no representation seeking   investigation, several policemen were   across party  lines.  Shiromani  Akali   lughara, it was later renamed Punjab
            approval or reconsideration had been   convicted, with the Supreme Court   Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal   95  during  the  certification  process
            received before the release.      ultimately upholding life sentences   described the removal as “an assault   before finally being released as Satluj.
                Following the developments,  for four of the accused in 2011.   on our collective memory, truth, and   According to reports, the film eventu-
            ZEE5 announced that Satluj would      Supporters of the film argue that   freedom of expression,” while Pun-  ally secured clearance after multiple
            remain unavailable in India until fur-  the story represents an important ac-  jab  Assembly  Speaker  Kultar  Singh   changes, including 21 cuts and a title
            ther  notice while it  explored  “every   count of alleged human rights viola-  Sandhwan and AAP MP Malwinder   change, before its release on ZEE5.
            appropriate avenue through due pro-  tions and should remain accessible to   Singh Kang also criticised the decision.   As the debate continues, Satluj
            cess” to restore the film for audiences.  the public.               Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh   has become more than just a film. It
            The platform later reiterated that it   Congress leader Pargat Singh   Dhillon said the matter was being tak-  now sits at the intersection of certi-
            stood firmly behind the film and its   said films dealing with alleged misuse   en up with the Central government.  fication  rules,  artistic  freedom,  his-
            creative vision  while  acknowledging   of state power should not be banned   Several  prominent  figures  from   torical accountability and competing
            the overwhelming audience response   because they offer society an oppor-  the film industry also voiced concern.  narratives  over  how  India’s  difficult
            it had received after release.    tunity for reflection and reform. He   Filmmaker Onir questioned whether   past should be remembered and pre-
                The controversy has drawn  at-  argued  that  such  a  film  “should  be   storytellers were surrendering their   sented to the public.

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