After nearly three years of delays, Diljit Dosanjh’s much-awaited film Satluj, originally titled Punjab 95, has finally premiered on Zee5. The release ends a prolonged wait following a certification dispute that had kept the film from reaching audiences.
Directed by Honey Trehan, the film is inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. It stars Diljit Dosanjh alongside Kanwaljeet Singh, Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan.
During an Instagram Live session with director Honey Trehan, Diljit said the film’s title had been changed to Satluj for certain reasons but insisted that the content remained completely untouched.
He stated that the version released on Zee5 is identical to the one he watched in theatres during private screenings two years ago. According to the actor, he would not have promoted the film if even a single scene had been removed.
Honey Trehan also maintained that the film has been released without any cuts. He said Jaswant Singh Khalra’s wife, Paramjit Kaur Khalra, had confirmed that the version available to viewers is the same one she had previously watched.
The film had earlier made headlines after Trehan claimed that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had recommended 127 cuts before granting certification. The director had publicly opposed the suggested changes, saying they would alter the essence of the film.
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap also praised the project, describing it as one of the strongest films he has seen in recent years and urging audiences to watch it.
After multiple postponements, festival setbacks and certification hurdles, Satluj has finally been released on the streaming platform, with the makers maintaining that only the title has changed while the film remains in its original form.(Agencies)
