Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The debate surrounding Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj shows no signs of slowing down. Days after the film was removed from ZEE5 in India, Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi claimed it continues to be watched by audiences abroad, alleging that the film has spread rapidly through WhatsApp while questioning the justification for its takedown.
Speaking to NDTV, Jassi said the film remains available for viewers outside India, including in the United States, even though it is no longer streaming on ZEE5 in the country.
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He said, “People in America can watch it, and so can viewers in the rest of the world. I’ll also tell you that people have shared it on WhatsApp so extensively and downloaded it so many times that I don’t think any film has ever appeared on people’s WhatsApp 10, 12, or even 15 times.”
Jassi also said he could not understand why the film had been removed from the platform in India, insisting that its content did not merit such a decision.
“I don’t understand why it was banned. There was nothing in the film that warranted a ban. If any government, agency, or police department believes it portrays the police as helpless, then I would say it is not about helplessness, but about incompetence and serious misconduct,” he said.
Inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, Satluj has been mired in controversy long before its release. Originally titled Punjab 95, the film was submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2022 but remained in the certification process for nearly three years.
Director Honey Trehan had earlier alleged that the CBFC demanded 127 cuts to the film. It was also expected to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2023 before the screening was called off following reported objections from Indian authorities.
After years of delays, the film finally debuted on ZEE5 on July 3 under the title Satluj. Featuring Diljit Dosanjh, Kanwaljeet Singh, Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan, the film was removed from the streaming platform in India just two days after its release, sparking fresh conversations around censorship and creative freedom.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
