The question arises: what is more surprising—the story of fake detentions involving Jaswant Singh Halda and the Punjab police, or the fact that the film based on these events finally appeared on a streaming service under a new title after years of fighting for distribution? Both situations evoke a mix of disappointment and hope.
About the film 'Satluj'
Hani Trehan's film 'Satluj' is simultaneously worrying, shocking, and carries a degree of hope. It narrates one of the greatest tragedies of Punjab, showing the story of people turning into monsters. The film convinces the audience that monsters are not mythological figures but people who kill their humanity to achieve their own goals.
The history of disappearances and investigations
The plot shows a family that takes out a large bank loan in search of their missing son. Bank employee Jaswant Singh (Diljit Dosanjh) approves this loan, seeing the family's difficult situation, but does not yet fully understand what is happening. Jaswant's friend was killed by the police as a militant, and his mother, having lost her mind, also disappeared. The search leads Jaswant to realize the true state of affairs.
News about the missing people no longer comes from police stations or hospitals; they are found in cemeteries where the bodies were burned by the police as 'homeless'. Shamshans have their difficulties because they need to know the names of the deceased for firewood accounting. Jaswant is shocked by the number of such 'homeless' bodies in the cemetery. His goal becomes exposing the game in the Punjab Police, where promotions are given for killing 'terrorists'.
Investigation and threats
When Jaswant begins to uncover this scheme, he launches a long fight for human rights, but then disappears himself. His wife Parmjit (Gita Vidya Ohlyan) takes over the protection of his mission. The Punjab Police sends its most ruthless officer SP Suggu (Suvinder Vicky) to prevent Jaswant's actions. A CBI team from Delhi, led by officer Samudra Singh (Arjun Rampal), is assigned to find Jaswant and uncover the whole truth.
Themes and criticism
Director Hani Trehan puts the viewer in a situation where dark secrets are hidden under the light. The story shows how police officers, trying to stop extremism, turn into executioners. They lack any sense of compassion or guilt for what they do. They do not realize that their activity, which should be a mission of 'defenders of democracy', has become a passion for them. 'Satluj' demonstrates this in the most horrifying way.
A feature of the film is that it is not just based on real events but is also a gripping thriller. The first half is dedicated to Jaswant's search for the truth about the missing people, and the second is about Samudra Singh's search for Jaswant. These storylines present a tense thriller. How truthfully 'Satluj' depicts the real events related to the murder of Chief Minister Beant Singh and Punjab explains why the censorship board refused to issue him a certificate for four years.
Political pressure and acting performance
Attempts to label Jaswant an 'anti-national' for revealing facts about the brutality of the Punjab Police in Canada and abroad, and presenting his mission, stemming from a sense of humanity, as a 'conspiracy to defame Punjab', demonstrate the audacity of the Punjab Police, which exacerbates the difficulties of the external CBI. These moments make this 30-year-old story relevant today.
It must be noted the brilliant talent of Diljit Dosanjh, whose performance in 'Satluj' will have a strong emotional impact. As Jaswant, he demonstrates the courage to fight despite the lack of support, which is the best work of his career. His seriousness, restraint, and naturalness in expressing emotions give the film power. The scene with the character Kuljith is particularly memorable.
Suvinder Vicky and Arjun Rampal, who played the roles of father and son in 'Dhurandhar', also performed excellently in their scenes. If this film had been released about five years ago, their contribution would have been even more significant. Their conflict scenes make the film very tense. Gita, as Jaswant's wife, proves again why she deserves more roles. Her conversation with Suvinder gives chills.
Technical perfection and finale
'Satluj' is also technically flawless. The cinematography portrays Punjab in a way that is rarely seen. Light, sound, background music, and makeup create an experience that constantly presses on the consciousness in accordance with the narrative, tone, and mood. When I first read the story of Jaswant's fight against this crime by the Punjab Police, it kept me awake for weeks: how can a person become so cruel as not to feel the slightest sympathy for another person? And how can such passion and courage arise in a person to raise their head for the truth amidst such cruelty?
It is interesting that Diljit's recent work 'Main Vaapas Aunga' touched upon the pain of Punjab, which many residents of other parts of India do not understand. This time, Diljit became the face of the pain of Punjab that few people know about. Director Hani Trehan deserves great recognition and love for this film. G5 Service is a platform whose subscription is available less than others, but if you take the monthly plan for 'Satluj', you will surely feel that your money was well spent.
