India's Censors Block Release of Controversial Film on Punjab Police Brutality The release of the film Satluj, which delves into a dark chapter of police brutality in Punjab state, has been repeatedly delayed by India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The board demanded 127 cuts to the film, which chronicles human rights abuses by law enforcement during the 1980s and ’90s—a period marked by violent government crackdowns on an insurgency in Punjab. Filmmakers, led by director Navroz Seervai, spent over four years navigating the censors’ demands, ultimately abandoning theatrical distribution and opting for an online release. However, the streaming platform Zee5 removed the film within 48 hours, citing security concerns and claims that it could be exploited by “anti-India forces.” The government has not issued an official statement, but officials reportedly ordered the film’s removal on security grounds. Starring Diljit Dosanjh in the lead role, Satluj centers on the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist who documented widespread police abuses during the Punjab insurgency. Khalra’s experiences, including the disappearance of thousands of people and extrajudicial killings, are central to the film’s narrative. The initial title, Punjab ’95, references the year Khalra was abducted and killed by Punjab police, an event that became a symbol of state violence. The film’s creators argue that the censors’ demands reflect a broader pattern of state control over media under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, where dissenting narratives face heightened scrutiny. The filmmakers’ legal battle against the CBFC’s restrictions highlights the challenges of producing art that challenges official histories.#zee5 #central_board_of_film_certification #diljit_dosanjh #jaswant_singh_khalra #navroz_seervai
