Story perspectives

Zee5 Pulls Diljit’s ‘Satluj’ After Two Days Amid Censorship

7/7/2026

Summary

Diljit Dosanjh Film Pulled

Zee5 removed “Satluj,” starring Diljit Dosanjh, from its Indian catalogue on July 5 2026, two days after its July 3 launch, citing “current developments” without details.
The certification board had demanded 127 cuts and a title change, which delayed the film’s streaming by three years.
Diljit Dosanjh thanked viewers, saying he expected the takedown and was glad the film reached audiences.

Summary

Harbhajan Singh Denounces

Takedown of the Jaswant Singh Khalra film prompted Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh to denounce it as burying truth.
Punjab politicians Sukhbir Singh Badal, Kultar Singh Sandhwan, and Malwinder Singh Kang condemned the takedown as an assault on memory, expression, and discrimination.
The case rests on a 1996 Supreme Court CBI probe order, a 2005 Patiala conviction of six policemen, and a 2011 Supreme Court upholding life sentences.

Summary

Diljit Bypasses Ban

Director Honey Trehan learned at 8:15 pm on Sunday that the film was removed.
Producers Abhishek Chaubey and Ronnie Screwvala financed the shoot, which cleared the film—retitled from “Ghallughara” to “Punjab 95” and finally “Satluj”—after 21 cuts and 15-day stoppages.
Actor Diljit Dosanjh said the film was quietly shown at a Rajasthan gurudwara to avoid a ban after the Toronto International Film Festival premiere was withdrawn and the February 7 2025 release cancelled.

History

Historical Context

Since the CBFC began imposing cuts—e.g., the 1975 Emergency ban of *Aandhi* and the 1995 order for 127 cuts to *Ghalughara*—India’s film censorship repeatedly blocks releases. In 2024 Zee5 removed the documentary *Satluj* after pressure from MP Harbhajan Singh and singer Diljit Dosanjh, mirroring the same state-driven constraints and renewed debates over artistic freedom.

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Diljit Dosanjh Film Pulled

Zee5 removed “Satluj,” starring Diljit Dosanjh, from its Indian catalogue on July 5 2026, two days after its July 3 launch, citing “current developments” without details.
The certification board had demanded 127 cuts and a title change, which delayed the film’s streaming by three years.
Diljit Dosanjh thanked viewers, saying he expected the takedown and was glad the film reached audiences.

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