Overview
- The Honey Trehan film Satluj premiered quietly on ZEE5 on July 3 and was taken down in India within 48 hours, with the streamer saying it will remain unavailable “until further notice.”
- ZEE5 said it stands by the film but removed it after what multiple reports describe as direction from the Centre, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has formed an interdepartmental review committee to examine the content under the IT Rules.
- Filmmakers and cast have publicly protested the takedown and signalled legal or advocacy responses while describing a years-long certification battle with the Central Board of Film Certification that included reported demands for scores of cuts.
- Sikh religious bodies and regional political parties have organised or pledged public screenings at gurudwaras and in villages across several states to keep the film accessible to Indian audiences.
- Copies of the film began circulating on WhatsApp, torrent and social platforms hours after the removal, the movie remains available to ZEE5 subscribers outside India, and the dispute has widened debate over platform responsibility, censorship, and how India remembers the 1990s Punjab conflict.