The biographical film 'Satluj' by Hani Trehan, based on the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra (formerly known as 'Punjab '95'), caused significant controversy. The film was released on the Zee5 platform but was removed just a few hours later. Since the creators did not make the necessary changes to obtain approval from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the film could not be shown in theaters.
A filmmaker reported that people are trying to raise funds to compensate for the financial losses incurred by the film. On Friday, Hani posted a long message on his Instagram, recalling the love 'Satluj' received upon its release on Zee5 on July 3rd before it was taken down on July 5th. He emphasized that the film was an opportunity to pay tribute to the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra.
The creator added that he is receiving numerous messages, calls, direct messages on Instagram, and tweets. People are contacting him, Khalra's family, and Diljit Dosanjh to express support and help financially cover the losses.
In his message, Hani Trehan mentioned learning about donation boxes being placed in gurdwaras, where well-wishers were trying to help the producers cover the damage from 'Satluj'—a similar initiative is taking place both in India and abroad. He expressed immense gratitude for this gesture, calling it very special and worthy of respect. However, he categorically stated that their love and support are enough, and they cannot accept any money, gifts, or donations for their film.
Hani noted that he and his producers (RSVP) have accepted that 'Satluj' will find its own identity despite the financial difficulties. He urged viewers to watch the film as an act of service in memory of truth, human rights, and Khalra. He wrote: 'This is a small attempt to share the collective grief of our loved ones and those people we lost in the darkness, regardless of their caste, religion, or social status.'
At the end of the message, the filmmaker added that he feels happy participating in this service. The team wants to clearly state and record that they have no connection to any money collected by anyone on behalf of the film, service, or donations. He called on everyone to help each other with compassion, courage, and love to together 'challenge the darkness' when needed.
When 'Satluj' was removed from Zee5 within 48 hours, an official from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stated that 'Satluj' lacked the necessary certification for theatrical screening. Instead of following the certification process, the creators changed the film's title and released it on the OTT platform. After its removal, many people illegally downloaded the film and held public screenings so that as many people as possible could see it.
