DSGMC to hold public screenings of Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj after Zee5 takedown

Days after Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj was removed from the streaming platform, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has strongly objected to the decision, calling it an attempt to suppress the story of noted human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra.

DSGMC President Harmeet Singh Kalka said the film, directed by Honey Trehan, documents Khalra’s efforts to expose alleged human rights violations in Punjab during the 1990s and should be accessible to the public.

According to Kalka, Khalra uncovered evidence of thousands of bodies allegedly cremated as “unclaimed” and brought the issue to national and international attention. He said preventing the film from reaching audiences has angered members of the Sikh community.

To ensure the story continues to reach viewers, the DSGMC announced plans to organise public screenings of the film across Delhi. The committee also intends to hold seminars in schools and colleges highlighting Khalra’s life, work and contribution to human rights.

Kalka said all Gurdwara committee members have been asked to download and screen the film in their respective areas, while educational institutions under the committee’s administration will host discussions on Khalra’s legacy to inspire greater public awareness and civic engagement.

Satluj, directed by Honey Trehan, stars Diljit Dosanjh as Jaswant Singh Khalra, a bank clerk-turned-human rights activist who exposed alleged illegal killings and secret cremations during Punjab’s militancy and counter-insurgency era. Khalra disappeared in 1995, and a decade later, four Punjab Police personnel were convicted in connection with his abduction and murder. His body has never been recovered.

Originally titled Panjab 95, the film spent nearly four years in a dispute with the censor board after the CBFC reportedly sought 120 cuts. It was released uncut on Zee5 under the new title Satluj before being taken down within days. The streaming platform cited “developments” for the removal, while reports suggested the film was withdrawn over alleged violations of the Information Technology Rules.

Produced by RSVP and MacGuffin Pictures, the film also features Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan in key roles.