Diljit DosanjhThe film spent nearly three years stuck in a cycle of delays, title changes and censorship battles. The social drama, previously titled ‘Punjab 95’, began streaming on OTT on July 3 after a bruising battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Amazingly, despite years of struggle, the film was released without the cuts that its makers resisted for a long time. Interestingly, the film went through two name changes before reaching this point. originally announced as ‘Ghallughara’, it was later renamed ‘Punjab ’95’ during the certification process, before finally being released as the Satluj, after the river that flows through Punjab.
Diljit Dosanjh confirmed that the film was not cut
A key question hanging over the film’s release is whether the makers have finally given in to the CBFC’s demands. Diljit has put that speculation to rest, confirming that they don’t exist. In an Instagram Live session on Friday, soon after ‘Satluj’ went live on streaming, the actor said that the film was released in its original, unedited form. “Our film was finally released on Zee5. Unfortunately, we couldn’t keep the original title Punjab 95 due to some reasons, so it is now called Satluj. But absolutely no cuts in the film. The version I saw in theaters two years ago is exactly the same one I saw at home last week. If even a single cut had been made, I would not promote the film,” said the singer during the Instagram live session last Friday.
Honey Trehan backed the claim of an unedited film
Director Honey Trehan also spoke about the matter during the livestream, sharing that Paramjit Kaur Khalra, wife of late human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, watched the film for the second time after its release and confirmed that it was the same. “Paramjit aunty also shared a post about the film and said that it is the same version that she watched earlier. Only the title has changed,” he said. He also emphasized that the team remained steadfast throughout the certification process, adding, “Everything I objected to, every word I refused to cut or mute, is still in the film.“
Satluj’s long and tiring battle with the CBFC
Troubles began with ‘Satluj’ when it was first submitted to the CBFC in late 2022, beginning a long and time-consuming certification process. Instead of going for clearance, the film hit one hurdle after another as the board kept raising new objections. According to reports, the CBFC has demanded 127 changes, including changing the name of the lead character, cutting shots of the Indian flag, and removing references to the Punjab Police. Honey had earlier opened up about how exhausting the ordeal was, explaining that every time the makers responded to a round of objections and resubmitted the film, another list would land on their desk. Things eventually came to a head, with the director saying he would rather have his name removed entirely from the project than grant the requested cuts.
The real story behind ‘Satluj’
The film is based on the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist who investigated the disappearance of thousands of Sikh youth during the years of militancy in Punjab through the 1980s and 1990s. By going through the records of cremation grounds across the state, Khalra found evidence pointing to several illegal cremations and alleged encounters. His investigation drew international attention to the issue and helped document the disappearance of more than 25,000 people. On September 6, 1995, Khalra was abducted by Punjab Police officers from outside his residence in Kabir Park in Amritsar. He was reportedly tortured and killed, with his body allegedly dumped in the Harike canal. In 2005, a court in Patiala convicted several police officers involved in the case, and the Punjab and Haryana High Court later upheld the convictions while increasing their sentences to life imprisonment.
Satluj’s troubles beyond India
“Satluj” is also facing problems outside India. It was supposed to have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023, but was pulled from the schedule just one day before its screening. Variety quoted a source as saying “political forces were at play,” but the festival never gave an official reason. Meanwhile, in India, delays continue to increase. ‘Satluj’ was initially planned for a theatrical release in February 2025, but that too did not happen, as the film remained stuck in the certification process. Directed by Honey Trehan, the film is produced by Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP Movies in association with MacGuffin Pictures. It stars Diljit Dosanjh, Arjun RampalKanwaljit Singh, Suvinder VickyGeetika Vidya Ohlyan and: Varun Badola.
