For nearly three years, Punjab ’95 was spoken about more as a “banned film” than an actual movie.
Long before audiences could watch a single frame, the Diljit Dosanjh starrer had already acquired an almost mythical status, thanks to its controversial subject matter.
In fact, there was an alleged demand for 127 cuts by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), a withdrawn premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), legal battles, and multiple title changes.
Now, against all odds, the film has finally been released on Zee5 under a new title, Satluj.
Directed by Honey Trehan and inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, the film explores one of Punjab’s darkest and most politically sensitive chapters.
It talks about the alleged disappearances, illegal detentions, and extra-judicial killings during the militancy and counter-insurgency era of the 1980s and 1990s.
Given the subject matter, the film found itself embroiled in controversy almost immediately after it was submitted for certification in 2022.
At one point, the dispute even reached the Bombay High Court before the makers eventually withdrew their petition.
Meanwhile, plans for an overseas release in early 2025 also failed to materialize, leading many to believe that the film would remain unreleased indefinitely.
Which is why the release of Satluj this week feels almost surreal.
Now, the latest that we know is that there will be absolutely no cuts in the OTT version of the film.
The only compromise was the title change.
The film has already received strong endorsements from filmmakers and early viewers.
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap called it one of the strongest films he has seen in recent times and urged audiences to prioritize watching it.
Online discussions have similarly praised Diljit Dosanjh’s restrained performance, with many calling it one of the finest performances of his career.
Others have remarked that watching Satluj feels less like watching a conventional film and more like witnessing a chapter of history that refused to remain buried.
Now, it is yet to be seen whether it wins the hearts of the audience digitally in the long run.
