Fans were left scratching their heads about the disappearance of Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj from ZEE5, with many believing it was a publicity stunt in disguise. However, the film’s writer Niren Bhatt has rubbished this idea, maintaining that there was no intention of creating controversy in the first place.
The biopic directed by Honey Trehan quietly released on ZEE5 and was then taken down within two days of its launch, creating chaos on social media and confusion among viewers. While people speculated if this was an intentional strategic move, the writer has now cleared all doubts.
While talking about the rumors Bhatt stated that Satluj was always meant to be a theatrical release. The creator says that they were hoping to make it popular just like Imtiaz Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga through the word-of-mouth publicity. The writer also expressed that filmmakers do not spend years telling their story to simply promote it through a controversial move.
He has urged audiences to support the film through legitimate means instead of promoting piracy. His statement has come at a time when unauthorized versions of the film have started making rounds online after being removed from the streaming platform.
Satluj, originally titled Punjab ’95 is about human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who revealed the secret cremation of unidentified bodies in the militancy era in Punjab. The film has had a long, torturous journey, facing several certification obstacles and release postponements, due to its sensitive subject matter.
The controversy took a new turn when the streaming platform, ZEE5, took down the film from its Indian catalogue stating “current developments”. The sudden move has led to renewed discussions on censorship, freedom of expression and the difficulties involved in making politically sensitive films.
Diljit Dosanjh remarked earlier on the issue. He said that when news reaches the public, its effective disappearance becomes impossible. His thoughts were perhaps echoed by other filmmakers who also showed disapproval over the removal.
Niren Bhatt has put an end to the theory or gossip about it being a mere publicity trick. Therefore, attention once again goes back to discussions on the film as well as creative freedom. Instead of the hype surrounding its appearance, creators believe that Satluj should be remembered for an interesting story it intended to share.
