controversies surrounding Diljit Dosanjh‘Satluj’ continues to gain traction, writer nirenbaat Now refuting the allegations that the film’s removal from Zee5 soon after its release was a publicity ploy. The screenwriter clarified that producers always viewed the film as a theatrical experience and insisted that the removal was never intended as a marketing stunt.“Satluj” premiered on Zee5 on July 3 and was removed from the platform within 48 hours as per the Centre’s instructions.
Niren Bhatt says the film was always meant for theaters
Talking about the speculation in an interview with NDTV, Bhatt said that the team hopes that the film will find an audience in cinemas first and then eventually make its way to digital platforms.“This (removal of the film after two days on ZEE5) was not a marketing gimmick. Every producer wanted the film to recoup the budget of the film they were making. The first wish was for the film to be released in theaters. We made the film for theaters and hoped that the film would spread through word-of-mouth like ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’ did. But this wish could not be fulfilled. Then the film was released on OTT,” he said.Bhatt further explained that streaming platforms buy movies to attract viewers and subscribers, so it is illogical to view releases as promotional activities. He added that Zee5 planned a promotional campaign around the film during the FIFA tournament and also benefited from adding the film to its catalogue.
Niren Bhatt urges viewers to avoid piracy
After the film was removed, pirated copies of Satluj started circulating on messaging apps and torrent websites. Butt urged viewers not to watch the film through illegal means and expressed hope that it would soon resume screening through formal channels.“If you look at it from a legal perspective or any other perspective, no one will find anything offensive about the film. It should be back up soon. It will start streaming again… The streaming should never have stopped in the first place. It spread through word of mouth. People shared it widely on social media and had an emotional reaction to the film,” he said.He also asked the audience to be patient until the movie is officially released again.“Since people abroad have already watched the film on ZEE5, the audience here will naturally be curious about it as well. The fear of missing out is driving the word-of-mouth of the film. That’s why people will go to other (illegal) platforms to watch the film. I personally think the film will be approved soon and it will start streaming again. So I request people to wait and watch the film officially,” added Bhatt.Directed by Honey Trehan and inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, Satluj explores the alleged disappearances and illegal cremations that occurred during the militancy period in Punjab in the 1980s and 1990s.Since 2022, the project has faced multiple obstacles. During the certification process, central board of film certification According to reports, the CBFC (CBFC) recommended deletion of 21 parts and asked the makers to change the title from “Ghallughara” to “Punjab ’95”. After the producers challenged the decision in court, the matter was referred to the CBFC’s revision committee, which allegedly recommended the editing of 127 segments and proposed changing the name of Jaswant Singh Khalra, the real-life character on whom the story is based. The producers refused to accept these changes, resulting in the film not being released in India for many years.
Why ‘Satluj’ was removed from Zee5
After finally debuting on digital platforms in an unedited version, “Satluj” was removed from the shelves by Zee5 within two days. The Center later directed the platform to remove the film from its Indian catalog citing security concerns under Information Technology (IT) rules.The decision drew criticism from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and several Punjabi political parties, while Diljit Dosanjh said the development was “bound to happen”.Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has set up a high-level inter-ministerial committee to review the film’s content. “In view of the current developments, ‘Satluj’ will be released in India until further notice. We remain committed to exploring all appropriate avenues through due process to bring the film back to the audiences at the earliest,” Zee5 said in an official statement.“Apart from Diljit Dosanjh, the film also stars Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan in key roles.