Diljit Dosanjh’s film ‘Sutlej’ on Sikh killings removed from streaming platform in India
New Delhi: Much anticipated film based on the killings of Sikhs in India has been removed from an online streaming platform just days after its release, renewing debate over censorship and freedom of expression.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the film “Sutlej” stars Punjabi actor and singer Diljit Dosanjh and is based on real events. It was released on the streaming platform ZEE5 on July 3 but was removed from the platform in India on July 5.
The project was originally produced under the title “Punjab ’95” but remained unreleased for more than three years because of difficulties in obtaining clearance from India’s Central Board of Film Certification. The film was later renamed “Sutlej” before its digital release.
According to the film’s producers, it is based on events surrounding the violence against Sikhs during the 1980s and 1990s.
The removal of the film has prompted criticism from some Sikh groups and free speech advocates, who argue that works depicting sensitive historical events continue to face restrictions in India.
Rights groups have long documented widespread human rights abuses during the insurgency in Punjab, although the number of victims remains disputed. Some Sikh organizations claim that more than 30,000 Sikhs were killed between 1984 and 1994, while other estimates vary.
From ‘Punjab ’95’ to ‘Satluj’: The story of Jaswant Singh Khalra reaches audiences at last
History often remembers wars and political leaders, but it is also shaped by ordinary people who refuse to stay silent. Jaswant Singh Khalra was one of them.
The Punjabi human rights activist dedicated his life to documenting alleged enforced disappearances and secret cremations during Punjab’s militancy era. His work sought answers for families searching for loved ones who had vanished, making him one of the most prominent human rights defenders of his time.
Khalra disappeared on Sept. 6, 1995, after he was reportedly detained by police outside his home. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have long highlighted his case as a symbol of the struggle for accountability and justice.
His story is now being brought to a wider audience through “Satluj,” starring Diljit Dosanjh and directed by Honey Trehan. The film, originally titled “Punjab ’95,” faced years of delays over certification issues before finally being released on the streaming platform ZEE5.
Rather than presenting Khalra as a conventional hero, the film focuses on his determination to pursue truth despite the personal risks. It follows his efforts to uncover alleged custodial killings and disappearances while portraying the emotional toll on families left without answers.
Director Honey Trehan has described Khalra as a man who fought not for politics or religion, but for human rights.
“Jaswant Singh knew the risks. He had a wife, two young children, and even had the opportunity to seek asylum abroad, but he chose to stay because he believed someone had to fight for those families,” Trehan said.
For Dosanjh, portraying Khalra meant taking on the responsibility of representing a real figure whose legacy continues to resonate in conversations about justice and accountability.
More than three decades later, Khalra’s story remains relevant. His work serves as a reminder that behind every missing person is a family seeking answers, and that documenting the truth can itself become an act of resistance.
Through “Satluj,” a new generation is being introduced to a man whose fight for justice continues to inspire long after his disappearance.
