Centre Examines Satluj Film Following ZEE5 Removal

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has moved to examine the film Satluj after it was removed from the streaming platform ZEE5 just 48 hours after its digital premiere on July 3, 2026. The government intends to refer the project to an inter-departmental committee to assess compliance with the IT Rules of 2021. The film, which previously faced significant certification hurdles with the Central Board of Film Certification and was formerly titled Punjab '95, has become a flashpoint for debate regarding historical storytelling and artistic expression in India.

The film is based on the life and work of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Kalra, who investigated secret cremations in Punjab during the 1990s. Director Honey Trehan noted that actor Diljit Dosanjh joined the project immediately upon reading the first draft, long before it became mired in regulatory delays. The project's themes have sparked a broader conversation about how cinema handles sensitive chapters of regional history, with supporters arguing that challenging historical narratives should be a subject for debate rather than censorship.

Supporters, including actress Gul Panag, have voiced concerns over the removal of the film, arguing that banning such content is counterproductive and that the nation's social cohesion is not so fragile as to be threatened by a movie. As the film remains in limbo, industry observers note that the case underscores the ongoing tension between creative freedom and government oversight of digital content. The immediate future of the film now rests on the findings of the I&B Ministry's committee review.