Diljit Dosanjh's film 'Satluj' has landed back in the headlines after streaming platform ZEE5 pulled it from its India catalogue just two days after its release, a move that has pushed the actor to openly ask his fans to keep circulating whatever copies of the film they have already downloaded.
Pirated copies spread as ZEE5 pulls the film
Within days of 'Satluj' disappearing from ZEE5 in India, pirated versions of the film began circulating rapidly across social media platforms. As those copies kept multiplying online, ZEE5 issued its own appeal urging viewers not to support piracy, even as the controversy around the film's sudden removal refused to die down.
A troubled journey even before the takedown
'Satluj' has struggled at almost every stage of its existence. Its production itself was delayed for a long stretch before it finally reached audiences after a long wait. Barely two days after that release, the film was pulled from the platform in India altogether. Responding to the backlash, ZEE5 posted a statement on its social media account on Monday, 6 July, saying, "We are trying our best and have not given up hope. Please do not support piracy. We are trying everything we can to make 'Satluj' available to you again in some way." Along with the statement, ZEE5 shared a poster telling viewers that the platform is working to bring 'Satluj' back, and appealing to audiences to do their part by refusing to support piracy.
Diljit tells fans the film now belongs to the people
Diljit addressed the controversy directly through an Instagram Live session, saying he now feels a sense of relief that the film has finally reached people despite everything. He told viewers that the film no longer belongs only to its makers, it now belongs to the people, and that nobody can stop it from being watched anymore. According to him, once a film has been released, it can never be erased completely. Diljit went further, asking everyone who had already downloaded 'Satluj' to pass it on to others so that the maximum number of people get a chance to watch it. He also spoke about a video he came across from Rajasthan, showing people gathered to watch the film, and said seeing that clip left him genuinely moved.
Rooted in a true story, delayed for nearly four years
'Satluj', directed by Honey Trehan, is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The film was originally titled 'Punjab '95', and disputes involving the Censor Board kept it away from release for close to four years before it finally reached screens. Alongside Diljit Dosanjh, the film features Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan in key roles.
