The controversy surrounding: Diljit Dosanjh‘Satluj’ continues to grab attention, along with the writer Niren Bhatt has now dismissed allegations that the removal of the film from Zee5 soon after its release was a publicity strategy. The screenwriter clarified that the makers always envisioned the film as a theatrical experience and insisted that there was no intention to use the deletion as a marketing gimmick.‘Satluj’, which aired on Zee5 on July 3, was pulled from the platform within 48 hours following directions from the Centre.
Niren Bhatt says that the film is always for theatres
Addressing the speculation in an interview with NDTV, Bhatt said the team hopes the film will first find its audience in theaters before reaching digital platforms.“This (removal of the film after two days on ZEE5) is not a marketing stunt. Every producer wants the film to recover the budget of the film they have made. The first wish is that the film will be released in theatres. We are making the film for the theaters and hope that the film will travel well through word of mouth like ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’. Then that wish will not be fulfilled OTT,” he said.Bhatt further explained that streaming platforms acquire films to attract viewers and subscribers, which makes it unreasonable to treat the release as a promotional exercise. He added that Zee5 has planned promotional activities around the film during the FIFA tournament and also benefited from adding the title to its catalogue.
Niren Bhatt requests viewers to avoid piracy
After the film was removed, pirated copies of ‘Satluj’ started circulating on messaging apps and torrent websites. Bhatt urged viewers not to access the film through illegal means and expressed hope that it would soon return to streaming through proper channels.“If you look at it from a legal point of view or any other point of view, no one will find anything offensive about the film. It should be restored soon. It will start streaming again… The streaming should not have stopped in the first place. It spread through word of mouth. People shared widely on social media and had an emotional reaction to the film,” he said.He also asked the audience to remain patient until the film becomes officially available again.“Since people abroad are already watching the film on ZEE5, viewers here will also automatically be curious about it. The fear of missing out is driving the word of mouth for the film. And, that’s why people are going to other (illegal) platforms to watch the film. I personally feel that the film will soon get clearance and it will start streaming again. That’s why I request people to wait and watch the film in an official way,” Bhatt added.Directed by Honey Trehan, ‘Satluj’ is inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and explores the alleged disappearances and illegal cremations that took place during the militancy in Punjab in the 1980s and 1990s.The project faces many obstacles since 2022. During the certification process, the: Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has reportedly suggested 21 cuts and asked the makers to change the title from ‘Ghallughara’ to ‘Punjab ’95’. After the producers challenged the decision in court, the matter was referred to the CBFC revision committee, which reportedly recommended 127 cuts and suggested changing the name of Jaswant Singh Khalra, the real person the story is based on. The makers refused to accept the changes, resulting in the film remaining unreleased in India for many years.
Why was ‘Satluj’ removed from Zee5?
After finally making its digital debut in its uncut version, ‘Satluj’ was pulled from Zee5 within two days. The Center later ordered the platform to remove the film from its Indian catalogue, citing security concerns under the Information Technology (IT) Rules.The decision drew criticism from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and several Punjab-based political parties, while Diljit Dosanjh said the development “has to happen.”Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has set up a high-level interdepartmental committee to examine the film’s content. In an official statement, Zee5 said, “Due to current developments, ‘Satluj’ will not be available in India until further notice. We remain committed to exploring every appropriate avenue through due process to bring the film back to our viewers at the earliest.“Apart from Diljit Dosanjh, the film also features Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan in important roles.