The controversy surrounding Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj has intensified after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting alleged that the film was released on OTT without completing the mandatory certification process.
The latest developments have triggered a fresh wave of reactions online, with many questioning the sequence of events surrounding the film’s release and subsequent removal.
Directed by Honey Trehan, Satluj premiered on ZEE5 on July 3 but was taken down from the platform in India just two days later.
Officials of the ministry further said that no representation or request for reconsideration had been submitted by the filmmakers before the film’s digital release.
While the legal and procedural aspects continue to unfold, it was another development that caught the internet’s attention.
Just hours before its removal, Satluj held an impressive 9.5/10 rating on IMDb, based on more than 40,000 user ratings.
This makes it one of the highest-rated Indian films on the platform at the time. Soon after, however, the film’s rating disappeared entirely from IMDb, leaving users puzzled.
The disappearance of the rating sparked a storm on social media, with many users alleging that the film was being systematically erased from public platforms.
One widely shared post read, “How idiotic is this? IMDb has completely removed the rating for Satluj altogether. They just want it to vanish from every platform.”
Several users questioned why the rating had been removed instead of being temporarily hidden or reviewed.
Others called for greater transparency from IMDb regarding the decision.
Support for the film also continued to grow beyond social media.
Adding another layer to the controversy, a Sikh organisation reportedly condemned ZEE5’s decision to remove the film from its platform.
It argued that the move was unfair and demanded clarity over the circumstances that led to its withdrawal.
For the unversed, Satluj was earlier titled Punjab’95 for its theatrical release.
Since the film was controversial, there was an alleged demand for 127 cuts by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), a withdrawn premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), legal battles, and multiple title changes.
That is why it was banned too and had the title changed for the OTT release. However, reports suggest that there were zero cuts made for the digital release.
Whether the same circumstances led to the removal of Satluj from ZEE5 is a question that people need to answer.
