A film detailing a human rights activist's investigation into thousands of disappearances and extrajudicial killings during a 1980s and early 1990s insurgency in India's Punjab state has found a new audience through community screenings. The movie, originally titled “Punjab 95” and now called “Satluj,” was removed from the ZEE5 streaming platform in India just two days after its release, following a three-year delay due to demands for over 120 cuts from India's censor board.
The film focuses on the life of activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated allegations of enforced disappearances, custodial killings, and secret cremations during the conflict between Sikh militant groups and Indian security forces. Khalra was abducted and killed in 1995, with several police officers later convicted in connection with his murder.
Grassroots Screenings Emerge
In response to the film's removal, Sikh organizations, local activists, and residents across Punjab have begun organizing informal screenings. These events, often held in the courtyards of Sikh temples or village halls, have transformed community spaces into makeshift cinemas. Villagers provide projectors, audio equipment, and power generators, while volunteers help spread the word.
Inderjeet Singh Bains, who helps coordinate screenings in the Gurdaspur district, stated that the initiative aims to foster spaces for reflection on a period of Punjab's history that continues to affect current generations. He noted that many elderly attendees weep as they recall lost sons and the immense suffering endured by their communities.
Gurmukh Singh, an attendee, shared that the film gives voice to fragmented stories young people in Punjab have heard, emphasizing that for many families, the insurgency remains a lived experience rather than distant history. He added that the movie evokes the grief borne by earlier generations.
Artistic Freedom Debate Rekindled
The removal of “Satluj” has reignited discussions about artistic freedom in India. Critics argue that films increasingly face censorship battles under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government, with accusations that the government favors films aligning with its nationalist agenda.
Balwinder Singh, a Sikh religious leader, questioned the grounds for censorship, stating, "Everything happened right before our eyes, so what is there to oppose? The truth is coming to light, and people should be allowed to see it." The government maintains that movie certification decisions are made independently according to the law.
ZEE5 issued a statement indicating the film would no longer be available in India "in light of current developments" and that it would pursue all appropriate avenues to restore its availability. Lead actor Diljit Dosanjh expressed unconcern about the film's online status, asserting that once audiences have seen it, "it cannot be erased."
The sentiment that the film's message cannot be erased appears to be resonating in Punjab's villages, where audiences are engaging with the film's portrayal of police killings, crackdowns, and families' searches for answers, often comparing the on-screen events with their own decades-old memories.