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Following a grueling four-year battle with the censor board, the Diljit Dosanjh-led biographical drama Satluj (formerly titled Punjab 95) has been abruptly pulled down from ZEE5 in India. The film, which premiered uncut on the OTT platform on July 3, was taken off the streaming service just two days later.
ZEE5 Issues Official Statement on Sudden Removal
ZEE5 took to Instagram to address the development, expressing gratitude for the massive audience response while confirming the film’s suspension due to unexpected circumstances.
“The response to Satluj since its release has been overwhelming… In light of the current developments, Satluj will be unavailable in India until further notice. We remain committed to exploring every appropriate avenue through due process to bring the film back to our audiences at the earliest opportunity,” the platform stated.
While ZEE5 did not explicitly state the exact legal or administrative reasons behind the sudden removal, they emphasized their unwavering support for the project’s creative vision, adding in a caption: “Satluj may have paused. But the conversation it started hasn’t. Thank you for the incredible love. We hope to bring it back soon.”
About the Film and Its Long Certification Battle
Directed by Honey Trehan and produced by RSVP and MacGuffin Pictures, Satluj is a compelling biopic based on the life of renowned Punjabi human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra.
- The Cast: Features Diljit Dosanjh in the lead role, alongside Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky, and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan.
- The Struggle: Under its original title Punjab 95, the film was stuck in a Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) deadlock for nearly four years.
- The Release: It finally bypassed a traditional theatrical release to premiere completely uncut on ZEE5 on July 3, garnering massive praise from fans and public figures alike before its sudden removal.