‘Satluj’, Earlier ‘Punjab ‘95’, Abruptly Withdrawn from OTT After 2-day Run

July

2026

After years of battling certification hurdles, title changes, and repeated release delays, Honey Trehan's 'Satluj' (formerly ‘Punjab '95’ and ‘Ghallughara’)—named after Panjab’s major river— was taken down on 5 Jul evening, from the streaming platform Zee5, within 48 hours of its release. Zee5 is a subscription video-on-demand Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming service owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. The movie has not been approved by India's Central Board of Film Certification—mandatory for a film's release in cinemas, but not mandatory for release on a digital platform. Zee5 announced that the film, based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who was abducted and killed by Panjab police in 1995, has been removed from Zee5's Indian catalog, while being available internationally on Zee5 Global. The Indian union government has given no reason to stall the movie’s release for four years, how it was later released on a streaming platform, or why it has again been withdrawn. The protagonist of the film, Diljit Dosanjh, urged fans to download it while it was still streaming. The movie is being rapidly shared among viewers who have rallied behind it and criticized its withdrawal. Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Sikh leader Harvinder Singh Phoolka and Member of Parliament Harbhajan Singh praised the film on its release but remained silent on the withdrawal. The apex Sikh body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) strongly condemned the removal of the film. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said justice-loving people across the world, including Panjab, have every right to know, understand, and learn from their history. Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal said he was 'shocked and saddened'. Indian National Congress (INC) Member of Panjab Legislative Assembly Sukhpal Singh Khaira said, 'The removal of this fact-based film contradicts the decision of the Supreme Court of India that upheld the conviction of guilty police officers.' Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Malvinder Singh Kang said, ‘When a film raises uncomfortable questions about the human rights violations and atrocities in Panjab, it disappears from an OTT platform. Why? Who is afraid of Panjab's truth?' Diljit summed up the issue, ‘The film has reached every home, people are talking about Khalra. But what was suppressed in 1995, remains suppressed in 2026’ (earlier coverage).