India Reviews Ban of Human Rights Film Satluj

The Government of India ordered the streaming platform ZEE5 to remove the film Satluj on July 6, 2026, just two days after its release. The film, starring Diljit Dosanjh, depicts the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and his investigation into the secret cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s. National authorities cited national security concerns, alleging the content could be exploited by pro-Khalistan forces. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting claimed the filmmakers bypassed the certification process and violated IT Rules by changing the film's title—originally Punjab '95'—to avoid 127 requested cuts by the Central Board of Film Certification.

The removal triggered a backlash from Sikh bodies and political leaders across the Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party, who labeled the move an assault on freedom of expression and an attempt to bury historical atrocities. In response to an appeal by Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon, the government established a three-member review committee to examine the ban on July 7.

Following the ban, organizations including the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee launched a campaign of public screenings using projectors and LED screens in village grounds and gurdwaras across Punjab and Delhi. ZEE5 has stated the film remains unavailable in India until further notice but is exploring legal avenues for its return.