Chandigarh: Political parties and Sikh bodies in Punjab on Monday slammed the removal of Diljit Dosanjh's film 'Satluj' from the OTT platform ZEE5, saying the movie compels India to confront one of the state's "darkest chapters" and that history must be confronted with honesty, not buried through censorship.
The film, originally titled 'Punjab 95' and based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, was released in India on ZEE5 on Friday but became unavailable on the platform two days later.
Criticising the move, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said he was shocked and saddened by the "arbitrary removal" of the film.
"This is not mere censorship. It is an assault on our collective memory, truth, and freedom of expression," Badal said in a post on X, adding that Punjab deserved to confront its past with honesty, not suppression. He said a film honouring Khalra's sacrifice "cannot be silenced this way".
Senior Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira also condemned the removal of the film, saying it depicted police brutality and the disappearance of Khalra. He said the film was based on facts upheld by the Supreme Court while convicting police officers in the case and urged the government to restore it so future generations could understand that period in Punjab's history.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Malvinder Singh Kang said censorship becomes "the most dangerous weapon" when a nation begins to fear its own history.
In a post on X, Kang questioned why films such as The Kashmir Files and The Kerala Story were screened without obstruction while 'Satluj' was removed after raising questions about alleged human rights violations in Punjab.
"I unequivocally condemn the unexplained removal of #Satluj from Zee5 India," Kang said, adding that the film portrays the alleged human rights violations of the 1980s-90s through the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra.
He urged the government to ensure the film was reinstated without delay, saying, "History must be confronted with honesty, not buried through silence and censorship."
Kulwant Singh Manan, chief secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), said the film should not have been removed and that people should know what happened during those years in Punjab.
"The government should ensure that people see this film. What is wrong if reality is shown and the public comes to know of what happened during those days in Punjab," he told PTI.
Congress MP from Patiala Dharamvira Gandhi described the film's removal as "unfortunate" and an attack on freedom of expression. He said the movie sought to acquaint younger generations with Punjab's turbulent past and raised important questions about human rights and governance.
The Honey Trehan-directed film was released without any cuts, but on Sunday evening ZEE5 informed viewers that it was no longer available in India.
"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," the platform said in a statement.
In the film, Dosanjh portrays Khalra, who investigated the cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab between 1984 and 1994 before disappearing in 1995. In 2005, four Punjab Police personnel were convicted of his abduction and murder and sentenced to seven years in prison. The Punjab and Haryana High Court enhanced their sentence to life imprisonment in 2007.
The film was originally scheduled to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2023 but was removed from the line-up without an official explanation. It also faced prolonged delays after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) reportedly sought 127 cuts. Planned releases were postponed, and the film's scheduled worldwide release as 'Punjab '95' in February 2025 did not take place.