Villagers across Punjab are defying state censorship, gathering in Sikh temple courtyards and village halls to watch “Satluj,” a film blocked by Indian officials. The movie, originally titled “Punjab 95,” was derailed by censorship demands and then pulled from the ZEE5 streaming platform in India just two days after its debut last week. Despite official takedown orders, Sikh organizations, local activists, and residents are circulating copies online, ensuring the film reaches audiences.
“Satluj” tells the true story of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. His investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings exposed one of the darkest episodes of Punjab’s insurgency, which unfolded in the 1980s and early 1990s. This conflict pitted Sikh militant groups, seeking an independent Khalistan, against Indian security forces, claiming thousands of civilian, militant, and police lives.
Rights groups documented widespread allegations of enforced disappearances, custodial killings, and secret cremations during this period of state violence. Khalra’s work alleged that thousands of people who had disappeared were cremated anonymously by police, without informing their families or maintaining official records. Khalra himself was abducted in 1995 and later killed; several police officers were convicted in connection with his murder 31 years ago.
State's Narrative Control
The film faced state suppression for three years, stalled after India’s censor board demanded more than 120 cuts. After failing to secure a theatrical release, its brief appearance on ZEE5 was cut short when it was removed in India. Officials have offered no public explanation for the removal, though local media reported it was taken down on “security grounds.” ZEE5 stated the film would no longer be available in India “in light of current developments,” promising to explore “every appropriate avenue through due process” to restore it.
This act of censorship is not isolated. The screenings have reopened debate over artistic freedom in India, where films increasingly face censorship battles under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government. Critics accuse Modi’s government of promoting films that align with its nationalist narrative, while suppressing those that challenge it. The government maintains that movie certification decisions are made independently under the law, a claim often used to mask political interference.
Community Resistance
In response to the state’s attempts to control historical memory, communities have transformed temple compounds and village spaces into makeshift cinemas. Residents arrange projectors, audio speakers, and power generators. Volunteers spread word from one household to the next, building a grassroots network of resistance.
Inderjeet Singh Bains, who helps coordinate screenings in Gurdaspur district, emphasized the collective healing these spaces provide. “When we screen the film, we see our elders and mothers, many of them 60 or 70 years old, crying because they have lost their sons,” Bains said. “Our people have endured immense suffering.” Gurmukh Singh, an attendee, noted the film gave voice to stories the young in Punjab had heard only in fragments. “After watching the movie, there is a feeling of the grief our earlier generations had to bear,” he stated.
Balwinder Singh, a Sikh religious leader, affirmed the film’s truth. “Everything happened right before our eyes, so what is there to oppose?” he asked. “The truth is coming to light, and people should be allowed to see it.” Diljit Dosanjh, who plays Khalra, expressed indifference about the film’s online availability, asserting that once audiences had seen it, “it cannot be erased.” Pawan Deep Kaur, another viewer, simply said, “It made us cry endlessly.” These community-led efforts directly challenge the state's power to dictate what history can be seen and remembered. They represent a collective assertion of truth against official narratives. The state’s attempts at suppression only amplify the demand for the truth among the working people of Punjab. The struggle for historical memory continues outside the official channels. It's a testament to the enduring power of collective action against state-sanctioned amnesia.