‘Sutlej’ three years after clash with Censor Board of India Madhu TrehanIts drama, which chronicles the life of human rights activist Jasbant Singh Khalra, finally premiered on OTT platforms worldwide on July 3, has been fully released.
‘Satluj’ Cast, Plot and Trailer
The official trailer of ‘Satuluj’ (earlier known as ‘Punjab ’95’) introduces a gripping, deeply emotional biographical drama directed by Honey Trehan. Inspired by true events, the movie stars Diljit Dosanjh Legendary human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra as well Arjun Rampal and Subinder Vicky. Set against the dark backdrop of insurgency-era Punjab, the trailer previews the relentless search for the truth as a common man risks his life to uncover the haunting reality of over 25,000 mysterious disappearances. Striking an intense and poignant tone, it highlights a powerful fight for justice against systemic corruption and silenced voices.
Satluj’s journey through Censor Charter
The film, now available on ZEE5 Global, went through three different titles before finally reaching audiences It began as ‘Ghallughara’, a term rooted in history, referring to the Sikh massacres of 1746, 1762 and 1984. In late 2022, RSVP placed the film for certification with the Central Board of Film Certification in India. Six months later, the board cleared it, but only by imposing 21 cuts and changing the title to ‘Punjab ’95’. The RSVP took the matter to the Bombay High Court to challenge that decision. Around the same time, the film’s gala premiere slot at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival fell through and it was pulled from the lineup.
Why the film is now called ‘Satluj’, the director
As reported by Variety India, Trehan said, “We could not get the previous title of the film. The title is now ‘Sutlej’. This is the full film, with no cuts or compromises, in its original form as we always wanted. This would not have been possible without Diljit Paaji and our producers and their willingness to stand up for their integrity. As Diljit Paaji and I both said earlier, we will not support a compromised version of the film.“
Diljit Dosanjh is playing the role of Khalra in Satluj
Dosanjh, who plays Khalra, shared, “Brother Yashwant Singh Khalra’s martyrdom and his contribution to humanity were the primary reasons I chose to be a part of this film. I felt a strong sense of responsibility towards the film and was committed to portraying such an inspiring character with truth, honesty and utmost respect.”
Previous work of the ‘Sutlej’ team
Trehan is also known for the 2020 thriller ‘Raat Akeli Hai’ and its 2025 sequel ‘Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders’. Subinder appeared in the Vicky series ‘Kohra’, as well as ‘The Fourth Direction’ which played in Cannes and ‘Milestone’ which played in Venice.
