Honey Trehan Speaks for the First Time After the Ban on His Film: 'The Flow of the Satluj Cannot be Stopped' Honey Trehan, director of the film Satluj, has spoken publicly for the first time since the movie was officially banned by an inter-departmental committee. The film, which documents the abduction and killing of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, was initially cleared by legal experts and producers but faced intense scrutiny from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Trehan described the process as a four-year battle, culminating in the film being denied a certificate and effectively banned. Despite the ban, the film has been screened in Punjab’s villages and has sparked widespread public interest, with pirated copies circulating widely. Trehan expressed surprise at the film’s reception, calling it a “movement” that transcended its original intent. The inter-departmental committee, comprising officials from the ministries of home, law, defense, and women and child development, cited national interest and sovereignty as reasons for the ban. They claimed the film “goes against the national interest” and “threatens India’s sovereignty.” Trehan dismissed these claims, arguing that the film was legally cleared by private law firms and that the CBFC’s repeated demands for cuts were politically motivated. He emphasized that the film’s message about Punjab’s history and the role of the state in human rights violations was central to its purpose. Trehan detailed the legal battle, including a high-profile case at the Bombay High Court. A judge initially refused to grant the CBFC’s request to delay the hearing, signaling support for the film.#central_board_of_film_certification #honey_trehan #jaswant_singh_khalra #ronnie_screwvala #prasoon_joshi
