Ever since Diljit Dosanjh‘Satluj’ was released on OTT and deleted within 48 hours, creating a lot of debate and controversy surrounding the matter. There was a lot of backlash online over the delayed release as the CBFC said the film was being released unedited on the platform without completing the certification process. According to the latest news about the film, the Delhi Sikh Gurugram Management Committee has announced that they will continue to screen Satluj despite the ongoing “ban” on OTTs.
delhi sikhs Master’s Office Management Committee Screening of ‘Satluj’ held
ANI reports that the Delhi Sikh Gurugram Management Committee (DSGMC) has opposed the ban on the film and announced that they will organize public screenings and workshops of Satluj soon.DSGMC Chairman Harmeet Singh Kalka also issued a statement in this regard, saying that banning the film about activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and his efforts to investigate and expose alleged human rights violations and illegal cremations that took place in Punjab in 1995 was not right.His statement further read, “As the film is a biographical portrait of Jaswant Singh Kalra, it depicts how a social activist made people see the truth. His discovery of evidence of the cremation of 25,000 ‘unclaimed’ bodies raised the issue not only domestically but internationally, highlighting the dire situation in Punjab. Suppressing this story, preventing the events of that dark era from reaching the public, is a deep blow.” This was wrong and it caused great outrage across the Sikh community.“He also confirmed that the committee will screen the film and will also hold workshops to explain more details about Kalra’s life in various educational institutions. He further added, “We have asked all the Ashram committee members to download and screen the film in their respective districts to ensure that the public can see it. Also, we will be holding a meeting with the chairpersons of our schools and colleges soon. Seminars on Jaswant Singh Kalra are organized in every university to discuss his life and legacy. We want people to realize the impact a single social activist can have on society. If one person can achieve so much, there’s no reason why we can’t work together to do the same. “
What happened to “Satluj”
In 2022, Honey Trehan completed ‘Satluj’ and applied for certification from CBFC; however, the process was delayed by nearly 4 years. Now, after a lot of hard work, the unabridged version is released on ZEE5. The film’s theatrical release was blocked as more than 120 cuts were suggested for the final film, which neither the filmmaker nor Diljit Dosanjh wanted.Two days after the video went online, it was removed from the platform. The streaming site also released a statement on the matter, saying that they are grateful for the support “Satluj” has received and are making every effort to bring him back on the platform.Public outrage ensued, with many sharing illegal download links for the film on social media platforms.