The Centre says it’s about certification. Punjab’s minister says it’s about history. Cheema points to atrocities from 1992 to 1997, and asks why that story got banned.
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Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has questioned the decision to remove Diljit Dosanjh’s film ‘Satluj’ from ZEE5. He called the move very wrong, saying the film depicts a significant chapter in Punjab’s history that deserves to be seen.
Speaking to ANI, Cheema said the film highlights atrocities committed during a particular period in Punjab. He went further, claiming the film exposes the actions of both the BJP and Congress parties.
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He specifically pointed to the Congress government in Punjab that ran from 1992 to 1997. According to Cheema, this period saw a lot of atrocities committed against the youth and people of Punjab. He said banning a film that portrays this history is simply wrong. He added that the film appears to expose the doings of both major political parties.
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Satluj had already faced more than three years of delay before finally reaching audiences. It was eventually taken down from ZEE5 amid growing controversy surrounding its content and release process.
ZEE5 confirmed the removal through an official statement, saying the film would remain unavailable in India until further notice. The platform added that it continues to explore options to bring the film back for viewers.
This entire situation has triggered strong reactions from both celebrities and politicians since the film’s removal.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting addressed the matter separately, stating that the film was released on OTT without completing the required certification process. According to ministry officials, Satluj did not have the certification needed for a theatrical release.
An official told ANI that instead of complying with certification requirements, the makers changed the film’s title and released it directly on an OTT platform on Friday.
The official also alleged that this release violated provisions under the Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules of 2021, though no specific provision was named to support the claim.
According to the same official, the certification body had recommended close to 100 cuts to the film. Rather than making these changes, the makers allegedly renamed the film and proceeded with the OTT release instead. The ministry further stated that it had not received any formal representation from the filmmakers seeking approval or reconsideration before the film went live.
The film is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra from Punjab. Khalra worked to expose alleged illegal killings and secret cremations that took place during the late 1980s and early 1990s, a period marked by intense militancy and counter insurgency operations across Punjab.
Khalra himself disappeared in 1995. His body was later discovered near the Harike Bridge on the Sutlej River. According to allegations, he was kidnapped, tortured and killed at the behest of Punjab Police officials serving at the time.
Satluj is directed by Honey Trehan and produced by RSVP and MacGuffin Pictures. Alongside Diljit Dosanjh, the film features Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan in key roles.
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