Veteran actor Kanwaljit Singh has raised concerns over freedom of speech in India after Diljit Dosanjh’s film Satluj disappeared from the streaming platform ZEE5 shortly after its release.
According to NDTV, the film, based on activist Jaswant Singh Khalra’s efforts to highlight alleged mass killings during Punjab’s militancy period, left the platform within 48 hours of its release.
The decision has sparked criticism from actors, directors and members of the creative community.
Kanwaljit, who played a Punjab police director general (DGP) in the film, said he was surprised by the removal.
He told The Free Press Journal that he spoke with director Honey after the film was taken down, and Honey said the team would challenge the matter in court.
Questioning the decision, Kanwaljit asked why the platform removed the film and raised concerns about freedom of expression. He said the move could increase public interest in the film, while the producers could face financial losses despite more people watching the film after its removal.
Kanwaljit also addressed speculation that his character represented former Punjab Director General of Police KPS Gill. He said the role did not portray any single individual.
He explained that he studied reports and profiles of different DGPs and police chiefs to prepare for the role. He also consulted a retired DGP friend while developing the character.
The film, earlier titled Panjab 95, was submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2022 but has not received certification clearance.
The filmmakers previously claimed that the CBFC demanded 127 cuts before granting certification. The film was also scheduled for a screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023, but reports said the screening was cancelled after objections from Indian authorities.
Despite the certification issue, Satluj quietly arrived on ZEE5 on July 3 without a promotional campaign. The platform removed the film after it received positive responses from viewers.
ZEE5 said in a statement that it continues to support the film. However, without revealing the reason behind the removal, the platform said the film remains unavailable for streaming “in light of current developments”.
