Following the sudden release of the film 'Satluj' on the Zee5 platform on Friday evening, after three years of issues with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), there was hope among viewers to see the picture that had long been highly praised by members of the film community. However, on Sunday evening, Zee5 unexpectedly removed the film from its catalog in India, stating that it was unavailable due to 'current circumstances.'
Questions about censorship and transparency
Co-writer of 'Satluj', Niren Bhatt, stated that if the film 'The Kashmir Files' could be released without problems, their film should have been given the same chance. In an interview with Variety India, Niren emphasized that the CBFC never explains the reason for objections, does not specify which fragment caused the problem, or who makes the decision. He also noted that Zee5, citing 'current circumstances,' does not disclose the essence of these circumstances. Bhatt called for a dialogue, pointing out that simply removing content without explanation makes communication impossible.
Author's stance on the film
Niren Bhatt said he lost hope for the film's release upon learning about it through a message on Friday evening. He expressed confidence that there is nothing unacceptable in the film, as it is the story of a bank employee who fought for families whose relatives were illegally abducted and killed. Bhatt also noted that the audience reaction before the film's removal confirmed his point: people asked why such a humane story was delayed for so many years.
Accusations of politicized ban
Niren Bhatt questioned the logic of using the film by anti-Indian forces. He wondered why 'The Kashmir Files' and 'The Kerala Story' are not considered weapons of international forces, while their film faces such restrictions. Bhatt believes that making such distant assumptions to block a simple and true story is erroneous, and the decision to remove it negatively affects the situation. He added that any restrictions only increase public curiosity. Viewers reacted very positively to the film, leaving thousands of videos and posts about how they cried or couldn't speak for a long time after watching. Since the official platform no longer provides access, viewers are forced to seek alternative ways, which is happening now.
Final appeal to filmmakers
Concluding his statement, Niren Bhatt said that the world needs such stories. However, having experienced what happened to him, he wondered if directors will have the courage to create similar films in the future.
