‘Satluj’ Removed From Streaming in India as Censorship Row Continues

Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj, the long-delayed human rights drama directed by Honey Trehan, has been removed from streaming in India just days after its release on Zee5, marking the latest chapter in the film’s prolonged censorship battle.

The film premiered on the streaming platform on 3 July but was taken down two days later. Announcing the decision on social media, Zee5 said, “In light of current developments, Satluj will be unavailable in India until further notice.”

The platform did not specify what those “current developments” were. However, it reiterated its support for the film, stating that it is “committed to exploring every appropriate avenue through due process to bring the film back to our audiences.”

In a separate Instagram post, Zee5 wrote, “Satluj may have paused. But the conversation it started hasn’t. Thank you for the incredible love. We hope to bring it back soon.”

The film remains available for streaming outside India.

Directed by Honey Trehan, Satluj tells the story of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated the alleged unlawful killings and disappearances of thousands of Sikhs by the Punjab Police between 1984 and 1994. Khalra himself disappeared in September 1995, and a decade later six Punjab Police officers were convicted of his abduction and murder.

The project was produced by Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP Movies in association with MacGuffin Pictures, the production banner founded by Trehan and Abhishek Chaubey.

The film has undergone multiple title changes during its journey to release. It was originally titled Ghallughara, a Punjabi term referring to historic massacres of the Sikh community, before being renamed Punjab ’95. It eventually premiered on Zee5 under the title Satluj.

Even before its release, the film had drawn attention over certification issues. Trehan previously told Deadline that after the film was submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification in late 2022, the board demanded numerous cuts and asked that its original title be changed. The filmmakers resisted the requested changes, resulting in lengthy delays.

The prolonged certification process also affected the film’s international rollout. The team withdrew it from the Toronto International Film Festival ahead of its scheduled world premiere in 2023. By 2025, the film had still not received certification for release in India.

During a private screening at the Cannes Film Festival that year, Trehan told Deadline, “There’s pressure on my producers to write off the film, coming from government officials, from central government officials.”

Following the film’s removal from Zee5 India, Trehan said he was caught off guard by the decision.

According to The Indian Express, the filmmaker said, “I got to know about the removal of Satluj from ZEE5 in India at around 8:15 pm on Sunday. I am at a loss right now. I don’t know how to react to this development.”

The latest development adds another setback for a film whose release has been marked by years of delays, title changes and certification disputes. While Satluj is currently unavailable to viewers in India, Zee5 has indicated that it intends to pursue all available options to restore the film to the platform.

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