due to the controversy surrounding Diljit DosanjhMovie ‘Satluj’ continues, veteran actor Anu Kapoor took a contrary view, supporting the government’s decision to block the film and urging its makers to seek legal recourse rather than publicly criticize the move.directed by Dear Trehan“Satluj”, originally titled “Punjab 95”, premiered on ZEE5 on July 3 after four years of entanglement with Punjab. central board of film certification (CBFC). However, following instructions from the Indian government, the film was removed from the streaming platform within 48 hours. While several members of the film industry have criticized the ban and expressed concerns about censorship and creative freedom, Kapoor believes the matter should be resolved through the legal system.“If that’s the case, take things to that point,” the actor said in an interview with Kadak. Supreme Court. If the censor board declares such a film unacceptable, then go to the Supreme Court. There’s a proper pipeline to follow, isn’t there? What’s the point of crying? “Responding to Diljit Dosanjh’s earlier comments about separating art from politics, Kapoor opined that the filmmakers were aware from the beginning, when they chose to make a film on a controversial subject. He insisted the appropriate course of action was to challenge the decision in court rather than appeal to public sentiment.“You acted in the film, and the rules clearly stated that if the censor board does not give it certification, you should go to the Supreme Court. Everyone knows that this is a controversial topic, and now you are begging for public sympathy. Why should you pity yourself? What’s the point of crying when you go to the Supreme Court?”Kapoor also defended the government’s concerns if a film was deemed to have the potential to disrupt public order or national security. Stressing that maintaining peace should take precedence over the release of movies, he said: “Is anarchy more important than releasing movies? Is it more important than roads in my country being burned, houses being burned, mothers and sisters being burned alive? More important? As a member of the film industry, I want to say that it is more important for me to have peace in my society.”“Following the government’s directive, ZEE5 removed “Satluj” from its catalog and issued a statement explaining the decision.“In view of the current developments, ‘Satluj’ will not be released in India until further notice. We remain committed to exploring all appropriate avenues through due process to bring the film back to audiences at the earliest.” According to reports, shortly after the film was taken down, pirated versions began to circulate online.Reacting to the development, an official spokesperson for co-producer Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP Films confirmed to SCREEN that the government had ordered the removal of the film, while expressing optimism that it would return to streaming soon.A government official said that the film was initially submitted to the CBFC in 2022 with the title ‘Punjab 95’, but the producers refused to go ahead with the 127 cuts recommended by the board, PTI reported. Officials said that the film was later released directly on OTT platforms under a different title and did not receive CBFC certification. “They had been hesitant about the editing suggestions and finally quietly released the film on OTT under a new title. OTT does not fall under the jurisdiction of CBFC. When the matter came to the attention of the government, Zee was asked to take it (the film) down. This instruction is given for safety reasons. OTT platforms are required to comply with their obligations under the intermediary guidelines. If they want to release the film in theaters and OTT, they should follow the set norms. “Before the film was pulled, director Honey Trehan expressed his gratitude to ZEE5 and the producers for supporting the project. He also admitted that despite years of fighting, he still had no idea who was opposed to the film.“If someone asks me who has questions about the film, I really don’t know. I have no face, no name. Everything comes through third parties or lawyers,” he told China Japan Magazine.Drawing from one of the most tumultuous chapters in Punjab’s history, “Satluj” investigates enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and unlawful detentions that occurred during the state’s counter-insurgency operations against Khalistan militants in the 1980s and 1990s. The film centers on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, whose investigation into the alleged illegal cremation of unidentified bodies culminated in his own disappearance. Apart from Diljit Dosanjh, the film also stars Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan in key roles.
