'Satluj' Vanishes from OTT Just 48 Hours After Release

After nearly four years of legal battles and censorship disputes, Diljit Dosanjh's biographical drama 'Satluj' finally premiered on OTT, only to disappear from streaming in India within 48 hours. Directed by Honey Trehan, the film is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who exposed the alleged illegal disappearances and cremations of thousands of people in Punjab during the 1990s before he was murdered in 1995. Initially announced as 'Ghallughara', later renamed 'Panjab 95', the film eventually premiered on ZEE5 under the title 'Satluj'.

The film's release had been delayed due to an extended battle with the CBFC, which initially suggested 21 cuts and later demanded 127 more after the title change. The makers argued that such extensive edits would compromise the film's authenticity and challenged the decision legally. Although the uncut version was quietly released on ZEE5 on July 3, the platform removed it from India just two days later, citing ongoing legal developments without revealing the exact reason. Interestingly, the film continues to stream on ZEE5 Global in countries including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, making its sudden removal in India a major talking point online.