Satluj Removed From ZEE5 India Days After Uncut Streaming Debut

Diljit Dosanjh’s film “Satluj” has once again faced a setback after being removed from ZEE5’s Indian library less than two days after its release. The Honey Trehan-directed drama, which finally premiered in India following a lengthy certification battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), continues to remain available for international viewers through ZEE5 Global.

ZEE5 confirmed the decision in an Instagram statement on July 5, thanking audiences for the strong response the film received after its release. The platform reaffirmed its support for the film and its creators, describing it as a meaningful work with lasting impact. It added that, due to unspecified “current developments,” the title would remain unavailable in India until further notice while the company pursued appropriate legal and procedural avenues to restore access. No additional explanation was provided.

The film began streaming globally on July 3 after spending nearly three years in certification disputes. Its release followed one of the longest censorship battles in recent Indian cinema, with the CBFC initially requesting multiple edits after the film was submitted in late 2022. Those requests eventually grew to 127 cuts, and the board also insisted the original title, “Punjab ’95,” be changed.

Directed by Honey Trehan and produced by Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP and MacGuffin Pictures, “Satluj” is based on the life of Sikh human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The film chronicles Khalra’s investigation into thousands of alleged illegal cremations involving approximately 25,000 unidentified bodies and enforced disappearances during Punjab’s militancy period. Khalra disappeared in 1995 after being taken into police custody, and subsequent court proceedings led to the conviction of several police personnel.

The project underwent multiple title changes throughout its development. It was originally named “Ghallughara,” a reference to historic massacres of Sikhs, before being retitled “Punjab ’95” and ultimately released as “Satluj,” named after the river flowing through Punjab. Despite strong Punjabi communities in Canada, the film was also withdrawn from the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023 amid reports that political considerations influenced the decision.

Speaking on Instagram Live, Dosanjh said, “Our film has finally been released on Zee5. Unfortunately, we couldn’t keep the original title Punjab 95 for certain reasons so it is now called Satluj. But there are absolutely no cuts in the film. The version I watched in theatres two years ago is exactly the same one I watched at home last week. If even a single cut had been made I would not have promoted the film.”

In a separate interview with Variety India, Dosanjh reflected on portraying Jaswant Singh Khalra, saying, “After this film, I had to take a week off to process everything that I went through portraying Jaswant Singh Khalra. The scenes, the emotions, and the aspects of the character lingered on, so it took time for me to pull away from that.”

The removal of “Satluj” has drawn comparisons with other politically sensitive films that remain available on ZEE5 in India, including “The Kashmir Files,” “The Kerala Story,” “The Bengal Files,” and “The Kerala Story 2.” Critics and political commentators have described those films as promoting narratives aligned with Hindu nationalist politics, while their creators have maintained they are based on facts or historical events. “The Kerala Story” was required by court order to include disclaimers stating that some of its numerical claims were not authentic, yet it remains available on the platform and has won two National Film Awards.

The controversy has also renewed attention on India’s broader film censorship practices. Last year, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting denied screening permission to 19 films at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala, including four films about Palestine, Sergei Eisenstein’s 1925 classic “Battleship Potemkin,” and the United Kingdom’s Oscar submission “Santosh.” Former Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac criticized the move at the time, saying the festival had been “scuttled by GoI denying censorship exemption to 19 films, without any rhyme or reason.”

Born in Punjab, 42-year-old Diljit Dosanjh has become one of India’s most successful entertainers across music and cinema. He recently completed the North American stadium and arena leg of his sold-out “Aura” tour, becoming the first Punjabi artist to headline Madison Square Garden. According to his team, the tour sold more than 225,000 tickets and generated over $32 million. His “Dil-Luminati Tour,” which concluded in 2024, ranks among the highest-grossing tours by an Indian artist. Dosanjh also became the first Punjabi performer at Coachella in 2023 and made his Met Gala debut in 2025. While unavailable in India, “Satluj,” starring Diljit Dosanjh, Kanwaljit Singh and Arjun Rampal, continues to stream for international audiences on ZEE5 Global.