ZEE5 Removes Diljit Dosanjh Film 'Satluj' in India, Triggering Political Reactions in Punjab

The OTT platform ZEE5 has removed the film 'Satluj', starring actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh, from its service in India just two days after its release. The move has drawn reactions from political and religious leaders in Punjab, who have expressed concern over the removal.

'Satluj' is based on the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist who uncovered alleged extrajudicial killings and secret cremations during the peak of militancy in Punjab in the 1990s. Khalra was abducted and killed in 1995.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal posted on social media, calling the removal 'shocking and saddening'. He described the film as a courageous unveiling of Punjab's painful history and said that stopping it 'is not mere censorship but an assault on collective memory, truth, and freedom of expression'.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages major gurdwaras, also supported the film. SGPC chief secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan appealed to the youth of Punjab to watch it, stating it provides an opportunity to understand the state's history and Khalra's contributions.

Congress MP Tariq Anwar cautioned against turning the issue into a political controversy, noting that a Congress government was in power during the period depicted but that the film should be judged on its factual basis.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Punjab minister Aman Arora said that facts should be made public but must be presented in a way that does not harm brotherhood and unity.

Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, the Jathedar of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, also backed the film, stating that those responsible for unlawful killings should be punished according to law.

ZEE5 issued a statement saying they stand firmly by the film and its creative vision. They explained that the film will be unavailable in India until further notice but that they are exploring every appropriate avenue through due process to bring it back to audiences.

Diljit Dosanjh reacted with a cryptic social media post featuring a still from the film with the caption 'I challenge the darkness' and a reference to the same thing happening to Jaswant Singh Khalra.

The film 'Satluj' had been under discussion for some time, and its removal has sparked debate about freedom of expression and the portrayal of historical events in India.