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ZEE5 Pulls “Satluj” After 127 Cuts; Punjab Leader Decries

7/6/2026

40 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

ZEE5 removed Satluj from its Indian catalogue on July 5, 2026, two days after its July 3 premiere.
The Central Board of Film Certification demanded 127 cuts and a title change, forcing two renamings before the Satluj release.
ZEE5 said the response was “truly overwhelming” and announced the film will remain unavailable in India.
SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal condemned the removal as an assault on Punjab’s collective memory.

History

Historical Context

Indian film regulation has long imposed extensive cuts, a practice evident since Irrfan Khan’s breakthrough with Maqbool in 2004, and it resurfaced when streaming platform ZEE5 removed Satluj after similar demands. The recurring interventions underscore persistent tension between creative freedom and the Central Board of Film Certification’s authority in India.

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Story summary

ZEE5 removed Satluj from its Indian catalogue on July 5, 2026, two days after its July 3 premiere.
The Central Board of Film Certification demanded 127 cuts and a title change, forcing two renamings before the Satluj release.
ZEE5 said the response was “truly overwhelming” and announced the film will remain unavailable in India.
SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal condemned the removal as an assault on Punjab’s collective memory.

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