The censor board cleared Satluj, 127 cuts and all. Now FWICE’s president is questioning why Diljit Dosanjh even chose the film. Diljit hasn’t responded, but the industry is clearly split on this one.
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The row around Diljit Dosanjh’s film ‘Satluj’ has taken a new turn. BN Tiwari, President of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), has now spoken up on the matter. He questioned why Diljit keeps picking films that stir controversy and said actors need to think about their social responsibility before signing projects.
Speaking to news agency IANS, Tiwari did not hold back his views on the 42 year old singer-actor. He said Diljit should be more careful about the kind of films he chooses, given his massive influence and public image.
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Tiwari said he finds it surprising that Diljit keeps choosing controversial subjects for his films. He pointed out that Diljit is a superstar from Punjab and should think carefully about how his choices affect his image among fans.
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He also said actors should not sign films purely for money. According to him, artistes carry a responsibility toward the country and should factor that in while picking projects.
Tiwari asked why Satluj was allowed a release in the first place if it had already cleared the certification process.
He explained that any content with the potential to create problems in society needs careful review before release. He said cinema exists to entertain and inform, but if the government steps in repeatedly or the censor board raises issues, it usually points to something in the film that was not fit for public viewing.
According to Tiwari, if the government feels a certified film could spread misinformation or disturb social harmony, it has every right to stop the release. But he questioned why these concerns were coming up only after the film had already gone through such a long certification process.
He said he does not understand why the film is being reconsidered after already going through multiple cuts and reviews. In his view, the censor board should have settled all concerns right at the start. Once a film gets approval, he said, it should be allowed to release, since producers have already invested heavily in it.
Satluj is directed by Honey Trehan. The film is based on the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist who investigated the alleged secret cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab between 1984 and 1994.
The film’s journey to release was far from smooth. It was first submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification back in 2022 but did not get a clearance certificate at that time. The makers had claimed the censor board asked for 127 cuts before it could be cleared.
Eventually the film reached audiences through Zee5, releasing in India on Friday. But just two days later, on Sunday, July 5, it was pulled from the platform without much warning. Many viewers were left surprised by the sudden removal.
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