A film so controversial it was pulled from the internet twice
In short: The biographical drama Satluj depicts the brutal reality of enforced disappearances in 1990s Punjab. Despite critical acclaim, the film faced a grueling three-year battle with censors and authorities, leading to its repeated removal from streaming platforms shortly after its release.
The film follows the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a bank employee who became a human rights activist. After discovering the brutal murder of his friend and the disappearance of his mother, Khalra began investigating the systematic extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances carried out by the Punjab Police during the 1990s insurgency. His efforts eventually led him to travel internationally to unite the Sikh community against these atrocities.
The production was marked by intense regulatory hurdles. Originally titled 'Ghallughara', the film was stalled for three years due to demands from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for over 120 cuts. The filmmakers, including director Honey Trehan, refused to alter the narrative to meet these demands, leading to a series of legal challenges and the eventual renaming of the film to 'Punjab '95' and finally 'Satluj'.
Even after a digital release on ZEE5 in July 2026, the film was removed for both Indian and international viewers within days. The production has been labelled by observers as a gut-wrenching, distressing portrayal of unrestrained government authority. Although certain commentators highlighted the movie's emphasis on Khalra's faith-based reasons, different critics lauded it as a compelling, essential political narrative regarding a person battling a regime that ultimately caused his agony and demise.
The project involved extensive research, with Trehan compiling 1,800 pages of witness statements and court testimonies starting in 2020. Lead actor Diljit Dosanjh notably chose to forgo his remuneration, charging a symbolic ₹1 to fulfill his contract, highlighting the project's commitment to portraying this specific historical period.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Satluj (film)
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