The controversy surrounding: Diljit Dosanjh‘Satluj’s film has found a new voice in criticism, with Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) President BN Tiwari raising questions about the actor-singer’s choice of project. Speaking exclusively to IANS, Tiwari said actors should not take up films just for financial gain and should consider their wider responsibility and public image while choosing roles.
BN Tiwari on why content like ‘Satluj’ should be ‘carefully scrutinized’
Asked specifically about the removal of ‘Satluj’ from India’s OTT platform ZEE5, BN Tiwari told IANS, “Indeed, if something creates social problems, then such content should be scrutinized.“
BN Tiwari discusses the process of censorship
Tiwari questioned the logic of a film being reconsidered after clearing India’s censorship process, saying, “Even if the film has passed censorship, and later the Government of India feels that it may spread misinformation, disturb social harmony, or misuse harmful elements, then such films should have been stopped earlier. It should have been reconsidered in censor board all concerns at the very beginning, the film will be released, because a producer has a lot of money, there is no reason to stop the film after that.
BN Tiwari on why Diljit Dosanjh chose to do ‘controversial films’
The FWICE president then turned his attention directly to Diljit Dosanjh, expressing surprise at the actor’s choice of project, saying, “I am very surprised why Diljit Dosanjh chooses to do controversial films. He must understand the impact of those decisions. He is a superstar in Punjab, and he needs to think carefully so that his image is not affected. He has a huge fan base all over the world now.”Tiwari further elaborated on what he believes should guide an actor’s choice of roles, “From what I understand, it is also an actor’s duty not to do films just for money or for any other reason. One should keep the ‘country first’ in mind. I’m not saying he doesn’t have a responsibility to the country—he has many, and he’s very talented. But he should really think about it before undertaking such projects. “
More on ‘Satluj’ and the controversy surrounding the Diljit Dosanjh starrer
Directed by Honey Trehan, ‘Satluj’ is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The film premiered on ZEE5 in India on Friday under the title ‘Satluj’, after years of delays tied to a history of censorship, it was originally submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification under the title ‘Punjab 95’ in 2022 and was reportedly asked to make up to 127 cuts before release.To everyone’s surprise, the film was pulled from the platform in India just two days later, on Sunday. In a statement shared on social media, 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 audience at the earliest.” The streaming platform also thanked viewers for their overwhelming response, saying it firmly stands by the film and its creative perspective.The sudden removal sparked a wider debate with Diljit Dosanjh himself addressing fans in an Instagram Live session to thank them for watching the film before it was removed, and now with BN Tiwari of FWICE weighing in on whether artists should take on such politically sensitive projects.