Diljit Dosanjh's Satluj Uncut Streaming Paused In India - Here's Why

Diljit

Dosanjh’s Satluj was released on ZEE5 without any prior announcement on July 3. The Honey Trehan-directed film got clearance to stream on the OTT platform without any cuts. The movie was unreleased for over three years due to censorship issues. Now, two days after premiering quietly on ZEE5 and receiving immense support from the Indian audience, the streaming platform announced that Satluj will be unavailable in India until further notice. The reason, however, hasn’t been disclosed yet. The OTT platform issued a statement on social media, and the internet was left shocked.

Why is Satluj not streaming in India?

Through the statement, the makers of Satluj expressed gratitude to the audience across the globe. “Your love and support have meant a great deal to us and to everyone who brought this story to life,” the statement read. The streaming platform further added that they stand by the film and the creative vision behind it. ZEE5’s team also mentioned that powerful storytelling has the ability to inspire, endure and leave a lasting impact and the platform remains committed to telling such impactful stories. However, “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.”

What's the controversy with Satluj?

Satluj, formerly titled Panjab 95, was delayed by three years. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) did not clear the film’s release due to its political content and potential influence on the viewers. Over 120 cuts were suggested, but Honey and the makers held their ground against it. Satluj was scheduled to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2023. However, it was withdrawn since the film was still expecting a verdict from the Bombay High Court. After waiting for years, the title was finally changed, and the film was released on OTT without a single cut.

Satluj based on real story

Satluj is set in the period following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, when over 2,000 people were killed and cremated unlawfully in Punjab's Tarn Taran district. Jaswant Singh Khalra, the director of a bank in Amritsar, uncovered the evidence of the horrific murders. In 1995, he was abducted and killed after his investigation had sparked worldwide protests, and the Supreme Court of India and the National Human Rights Commission had also backed the findings.Satluj is headlined by Diljit Dosanjh, Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky, Geetika Vidya and many others.