‘Satluj’ removed from ZEE5: Who was the Sikh activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who inspired the film?

Bollywood movie Satluj, starring Diljit Dosanjh in the lead role, premiered on ZEE5 on Friday (July 3), receiving rave reviews for its powerful story and performances. However, two days after its premiere, the film was made unavailable in India.

In a social media statement on Sunday (July 5), ZEE5 said, “In light of the current developments, Satluj will be unavailable in India until further notice. We remain committed to exploring every appropriate avenue through due process to bring the film back to our audiences at the earliest opportunity.”

This is another setback for the Honey Trehan-directed film, produced by Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP. The movie, initially titled Punjab 95, was expected to have a theatrical release, but remained in limbo as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which is the country’s censor board, asked for multiple cuts. It was also withdrawn from its planned premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.

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The sudden pause on the movie has sparked interest in it: What is it about? Who is Jaswant Singh Khalra, who serves as an inspiration for the film? And why has it been suddenly withdrawn from ZEE5 in India?

What is Satluj all about, and how controversial has it been?

Released on ZEE5 after much struggle, Satluj features Diljit Dosanjh alongside Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky, and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan. It is based on the life of Sikh activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who became known for exposing cases of alleged illegal killings and secret cremations during the militancy years of 1984 to 1994 in Punjab.

Khalra disappeared in 1995 after being taken into police custody, and later court proceedings resulted in the conviction of several police personnel.

The movie has run into trouble since it was made in 2022. It was originally titled Ghallughara, a historic term for the massacres of Sikhs in 1746, 1762, and 1984. When the movie applied for certification from India’s Central Board of Film Certification in late 2022, the six-month process ended with the film cleared for 21 cuts and a mandated title change to Punjab ’95. The producers appealed that ruling in the Bombay High Court.

Around the same time, the film was withdrawn from its planned premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). According to a report by Variety, “political considerations” had played a role in the decision.

A still from the movie Satluj, featuring Diljit Dosanjh. The film has been withdrawn from the OTT platform, ZEE5. Image Courtesy: ZEE5

Early this year, the people behind the move decided to forego a theatrical release and opted to stream the film directly on an OTT platform without any cuts. And on July 3, the movie was released on the ZEE5 platform to rave reviews.

Reacting to the release, Trehan said in a statement, “From the very beginning, our intention was to tell this story with honesty, sensitivity, and without compromise. After a long wait, audiences will finally witness our labour of love and hard work. Satluj is not just the story of one individual; it is a tribute to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Everyone associated with the film deeply believed in the importance of this narrative, as it draws inspiration from the life of the great martyr Jaswant Singh.”

Who was Jaswant Singh Khalra, the inspiration for Satluj?

Satluj is based on the life and disappearance of Sikh activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. A director of a bank in the city of Amritsar in Punjab, Khalra, brought to light allegations of illegal killings and secret cremations carried out during the years of militancy in the state.

In the years following Operation Blue Star, the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, many families in the state reported that their relatives had gone missing after being picked up by the Punjab Police on suspicion of having links with militancy.

Jaswant Singh Khalra garnered global attention for his research concerning 25,000 illegal killings and cremations involving the Punjab police. Image Courtesy: Facebook

Many of Khalra’s friends and acquaintances also began to go missing, prompting him to investigate the matter. His need for answers led him to municipal corporation records in Amritsar, where he found documents containing the names, ages, and addresses of thousands of people who had allegedly been killed and illegally cremated by the police without informing their families.

The revelations drew attention — nationally and internationally — making him one of the most prominent human rights campaigners in Punjab.

In a cruel twist of fate, in September 1995, Khalra himself disappeared. Multiple reports claim that he was last seen washing his car outside his home when he was allegedly abducted. He was never seen alive again.

In 1996, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) found evidence that the police had held him at a police station in Tarn Taran. The agency recommended the prosecution of nine Punjab Police officials in connection with his kidnapping and murder.

After years of fighting in court, in October 2007, a division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld and strengthened punishments against several convicted officials, extending life imprisonment to four of the accused — former Sub-Inspectors Satnam Singh, Surinder Pal Singh, and Jasbir Singh, along with former Head Constable Prithipal Singh.

Within sections of the Sikh community, Khalra is remembered as ‘Shaheed’ (martyr) for the sacrifices he made while documenting alleged human rights violations.

Why has Satluj been withdrawn from the OTT platform?

Just two days after the movie was released on ZEE5, the OTT platform stated that Satluj was being withdrawn from viewing for Indian audiences.

“The response to Satluj since its release has been truly overwhelming. We are deeply grateful to every viewer who chose to subscribe, watch, and champion the film. Your love and support have meant a great deal to us and to everyone who brought this story to life.

“At ZEE5, we stand firmly by Satluj and the creative vision behind it. We believe powerful storytelling has the ability to inspire, endure, and leave a lasting impact. We remain committed to championing authentic and meaningful narratives.

“In light of the current developments, Satluj will be unavailable in India until further notice. We remain committed to exploring every appropriate avenue through due process to bring the film back to our audiences at the earliest opportunity. Our commitment to creators and to stories told with conviction, artistic integrity, and purpose remains unwavering,” said the platform in a detailed statement.

The decision prompted strong reactions from many, including the movie’s star, Diljit Dosanjh. He posted a still from the movie with a hard-hitting caption. “I challenge the darkness,” he wrote. “The same thing that happened to Satluj also happened to Shaheed Jaswant Singh Khalra,” he added in Punjabi.

While no explanation has been provided so far for removing Satluj from the platform, government sources have said that the action was taken as certain portions in Satluj could be misused by anti-India forces.

The sources, according to a News18 report, raised concern over certain portions of the film after its digital release. They said those could potentially be misused by anti-India elements, prompting authorities to seek their removal from the platform.

However, this decision has turned political. Aam Aadmi Party MP Malwinder Singh Kang said it was beyond shocking that the movie had been dropped from OTT. “When a nation begins to fear its own history, censorship becomes its most dangerous weapon,” he said.

With inputs from agencies