After Three-Year Battle with Censor Board, Diljit Dosanjh's 'Satluj' Finally Released Digitally
After waiting for over three years to secure a certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and approval for theatrical release, the makers of the film Satluj — originally titled ‘Punjab 95’ — have finally released it on the Hindi streaming platform Zee5.
Written and directed by Honey Trehan, the film is inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, portrayed by singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh, and his relentless pursuit of truth. Khalra, a former banker, was posthumously awarded the Seal of Civil Society for his work exposing human rights abuses during the militancy era in Punjab.
In an interview with The Indian Express, Trehan expressed mixed feelings about the release: “A little disappointed” that the film could not debut in theatres, but relieved that “people can now watch the film exactly how it was made. That’s deeply satisfying for me. Apart from the title change, there have been no cuts or compromises.”
The film’s release had been stalled for years after the CBFC demanded approximately 127 cuts. The makers, particularly Dosanjh and Trehan, refused to comply with the demands, citing artistic integrity. The standoff ultimately led to the decision to bypass theatrical release and opt for a digital platform.
Satluj is now available to stream on Zee5, allowing audiences to view the film as intended by its creators.
