Diljit Dosanjh's Satluj is set to reach audiences through community screenings at gurudwaras across five states after the film was removed from ZEE5 just 48 hours after its release in India on July 3. The initiative has reportedly been introduced to ensure that the legacy of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra remains visible even though the film is no longer accessible on the streaming service. In the coming days, gurdwaras across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and Jammu are set to hold special screenings of the Honey Trehan-directed movie.
As reported by Mid-day, sources within the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) stated that gurdwara committees nationwide have come together to arrange community screenings of the film. In Jammu, Satluj, formerly known as Punjab '95, is scheduled to be shown at four gurudwaras from July 10 to July 13. In Rajasthan, a social media poster has promoted a public screening on July 11 at the Baba Fateh Singh Auditorium in the Chandi Ki Taksal Gurudwara in Jaipur.
The screening campaign has also received support in the national capital. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Harmeet Singh Kalka reportedly called for the film to be restored on ZEE5 while backing the community initiative. Explaining the reason behind the screenings, an SGPC source told the publication, "The community doesn’t want this story to disappear simply because the film is unavailable online. If people cannot watch it on OTT, gurudwaras are opening their doors. Jaswant Singh Khalra’s story deserves to be seen."
Why was the film removed from Zee5?
The biographical drama portrays the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. It debuted on ZEE5 on July 3 but was removed two days later after the Centre reportedly instructed the platform to take it down under the Information Technology (IT) Rules, citing security-related concerns. Reports indicate that the government feared the film might incite pro-Khalistani mobilisation or unrest, a concern that was cited as one of the reasons for its removal.
The film’s path to release had already been defined by years of postponements. Finished almost four years earlier, it underwent an extended review by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). First submitted under the title Ghallughara, the film was reportedly approved with 21 cuts and was instructed to change its name to Punjab ’95.
However, the filmmakers were dissatisfied with the proposed edits and contested the certification process in court. The case was subsequently taken up by the CBFC's revising committee, which allegedly ordered 127 cuts and suggested further modifications, including changing the name of the main character, Jaswant Singh Khalra. The makers rejected these demands, resulting in a delay of several years in the film’s release in India.
Although Satluj finally premiered on ZEE5 in its uncut form on July 3, it was taken down from the platform within 48 hours. The decision sparked criticism from the SGPC and multiple Punjab-based political parties. Diljit Dosanjh later commented on the situation, stating that its removal was "inevitable."Helmed by Honey Trehan, Satluj stars Diljit Dosanjh, Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky, and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan in key roles.