For almost four years, director Honey Trehan has been fighting to bring his ambitious film to audiences. What began as Ghallughara was later renamed Panjab ’95 before finally releasing on ZEE5 as Satluj. Unlike most major OTT releases, the film arrived quietly without a trailer launch, promotional campaign, or advance announcement.
The surprise release, however, was short-lived. Less than 48 hours after its OTT premiere, ZEE5 removed Satluj from its platform in India, citing “current developments.” The unexpected takedown has once again brought the film into the spotlight and raised fresh questions about its long legal battle, censorship issues, and the story it seeks to tell.
The Diljit Dosanjh-starrer has remained one of the most talked-about and controversial Indian films in recent years. Here’s a look at what the film is about, why it faced repeated hurdles, and why it was removed from ZEE5 soon after its release.
What Is Satluj About?
Satluj, earlier titled Panjab 95, is a biographical drama inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The film features Diljit Dosanjh in the lead role alongside Geetika Vidya Ohlyan, Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky, and Kanwaljit Singh in key roles.
Set against the backdrop of Punjab during the insurgency years of the 1980s and 1990s, the film explores allegations of enforced disappearances, illegal detentions, and extrajudicial killings during anti-insurgency operations. While inspired by real events, the filmmakers have fictionalised certain names and incidents for cinematic storytelling.
The story mainly follows Khalra’s investigation into the alleged illegal cremation of nearly 25,000 unidentified bodies in Punjab between 1984 and 1994. His investigation eventually made him one of the country’s most prominent human rights activists.
Why Did The Film Become So Controversial?
The controversy surrounding Satluj began even before production was completed. When the project was first announced in 2022, it carried the title Ghallughara, a word associated with historical massacres of Sikhs. Before submitting the film to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the makers renamed it Panjab ’95.
According to reports, the censor board initially suggested 21 cuts, expressing concerns over the film’s portrayal of the administration. The filmmakers challenged the recommendation, after which the matter reached a revision committee.
The revision committee reportedly recommended around 120 to 127 cuts. Rather than accepting those changes, the makers decided to continue their legal fight. As a result, the film remained unreleased for nearly four years. Eventually, the team opted for a surprise digital release.
The film quietly arrived on ZEE5 under the title Satluj without any promotional campaign. According to Diljit Dosanjh, the makers intentionally avoided publicity because they feared that announcing the release beforehand could once again delay the film or stop it from reaching audiences.
Who Was Jaswant Singh Khalra?
Jaswant Singh Khalra was a bank employee who later became one of Punjab’s most well-known human rights activists. During the 1990s, he investigated allegations that thousands of unidentified bodies had been secretly cremated by Punjab Police during the insurgency period.
Khalra publicly accused senior police officials of being responsible for these alleged extrajudicial killings. He also took the issue beyond India and raised it internationally, including before Canada’s House of Commons. The film recreates many of these events while changing the names of some real-life personalities. It also portrays Khalra’s alleged abduction, torture, and death in police custody.
In reality, Khalra disappeared in 1995 and was widely believed to have been abducted. His body was never recovered. Years later, several Punjab Police personnel were convicted in connection with his abduction and murder. Their prison sentences were later enhanced to life imprisonment by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Why Was Satluj Removed From ZEE5?
The biggest question after the film’s surprise release was why it vanished so quickly. On Sunday evening, less than two days after its premiere, ZEE5 announced that Satluj had been removed from its platform in India until further notice.
The streaming platform said the decision had been taken in light of “current developments.” It also stated that it remained committed to exploring all legal options to restore the film and thanked viewers who had watched and supported it. ZEE5 further reiterated its support for both the film and its creative vision.
According to PTI, citing a government official, the film had originally been submitted to the CBFC in 2022 under the title Punjab 95. However, the makers reportedly did not accept the board’s proposed 127 cuts and later released the film directly on OTT under the new title Satluj without CBFC certification. The official said:
“They kept sitting on the suggested cuts and eventually released the movie quietly on OTT with a new title. OTT does not come under the CBFC’s jurisdiction. When the matter came to the government’s notice, Zee was asked to take it (the film) down. The direction was given due to security concerns. The OTT platform was asked to follow the obligations under intermediary guidelines. If they want to release the film in theatres and OTT, they should follow the laid down norms.”
Soon after the removal, pirated copies of the film reportedly began circulating online.
DSGMC President Harmeet Singh Kalka Reacts To The Ban
On Tuesday (July 7), DSGMC President Harmeet Singh Kalka reacted to the removal of the film and criticised the decision. He said:
“Since this film is a biographical portrayal of Jaswant Singh Khalra, it depicts how a social activist opened people’s eyes to the truth. He uncovered evidence of 25,000 bodies that had been cremated as ‘unclaimed’ and raised the issue not only within the country but also internationally, highlighting the dire situation in Punjab. Suppressing this story, preventing the events of that dark era from reaching the public, is deeply wrong, and it has sparked immense outrage across the Sikh community.”
Kalka also said that they had asked all Gurdwara committee members to download and screen the film in their respective areas to ensure that it reaches the public.
Honey Trehan Says He Never Knew Who Opposed The Film
Before the film was removed, Honey Trehan thanked ZEE5 and the producers for standing by the project. Speaking to Mid-Day, the director said he still does not know exactly who opposed the film over the years. He explained that all communication happened through lawyers or intermediaries and that he never dealt directly with any individual or authority objecting to the project.
Trehan also revealed that there came a point when communication with the censor board had stopped completely. He further praised ZEE5 for taking the unusual decision to release the film without any prior marketing, saying he had never seen a launch handled in that manner before.
Diljit Dosanjh Reacts After The Takedown
Diljit Dosanjh also addressed the controversy during an Instagram Live session after Satluj was removed from ZEE5. The actor suggested that the team had anticipated the possibility of the film being taken down. That is why they chose a surprise digital release instead of a traditional promotional campaign. He also thanked everyone who had downloaded and watched the film before it disappeared from the platform.
What’s Next For Satluj?
With Satluj once again unavailable for streaming in India, the future of the film remains uncertain. ZEE5 has expressed hope that it will be able to restore the film after following the due legal process. However, there is currently no official timeline for its return. For now, Satluj continues to remain at the centre of discussions around creative freedom, censorship, legal procedures, and one of the longest-running release battles in recent Indian cinema.
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