Satluj pulled to prevent revival of dwindling pro-Khalistani movement: Sources

Honey Trehan's Satluj has been taken off ZEE5 after security concerns were raised. Now, sources close to the development told India Today that the move reflects fears that pro-Khalistani groups could use the film to rebuild support ahead of Punjab's elections.

In Short

• Honey Trehan's Satluj removed from ZEE5
• Removal due to national security concerns
• Fear of film aiding pro-Khalistani recruitment

Honey Trehan's Satluj was removed from the OTT platform ZEE5 over national security concerns, sources told India Today. They claimed there were apprehensions that the film could be used by pro-Khalistani elements to recruit support for what they described as an otherwise "dwindling pro-Khalistani movement."

Sources further said there is concern that some pro-Khalistani groups are trying to regain ground in Punjab ahead of the upcoming elections, and these security considerations drove the decision to withdraw the film.

India Today has also learnt that the matter is now under examination by a high-level Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) constituted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The committee will review the content of Satluj under the provisions of Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.

The film, inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, was removed from ZEE5 within 48 hours of its surprise release. The streaming platform later cited "circumstances beyond our control" in a statement about the reason behind the decision. The platform said it regretted the inconvenience caused to viewers but did not elaborate on the reasons behind the decision.

The development has since sparked widespread debate, with several members of the film fraternity questioning the takedown. Director Honey Trehan maintained that he had secured all the necessary certifications before the film's release and suggested that "God's will prevails" in response to the controversy.

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma also weighed in, calling Satluj "not a film, but a deep wound that will never heal." In a strongly worded social media post, he urged authorities not to suppress the film, writing, "Please don't do to Satluj what has been done to Jaswant Singh Khalra." He added that "any art which makes the powerful uncomfortable has done its job."

Satluj stars Diljit Dosanjh as Jaswant Singh Khalra, the human rights activist who documented the alleged illegal cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies during Punjab's militancy years. The film also features Arjun Rampal in a key role and revisits the events surrounding Khalra's abduction and murder in 1995.

The controversy has also reignited conversations around artistic freedom, censorship and the balance between creative expression and national security, with the reasons behind the film's removal continuing to draw public and political attention.

- Ends