It's been four years, and director Honey Trehan is still fighting for his film Satluj (formerly Panjab '95). After a prolonged legal and censorship battle, the movie quietly arrived on ZEE5 without any promotions or advance announcements. However, less than 48 hours later, the streaming platform removed it in India, citing "current developments." The sudden takedown has left many wondering why the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer remains one of the most controversial films in recent years and why it has struggled to find a stable release, both in theatres and on OTT.What is Satluj about?Satluj, previously titled Panjab '95, is a biographical drama inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Diljit Dosanjh plays Khalra, while the film also stars Geetika Vidya Ohlyan, Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky and Kanwaljit Singh in key roles.Set against the backdrop of Punjab during the insurgency years, the film explores allegations of enforced disappearances, illegal detentions and extrajudicial killings during the state's anti-insurgency operations in the 1980s and 1990s. While based on real events, the film fictionalises some names and incidents to tell its story.The main core of the narrative is Khalra's investigation into the alleged illegal cremation of nearly 25,000 unidentified bodies in Punjab between 1984 and 1994. His findings eventually turned him into one of the country's most prominent human rights voices.Why did the film become so controversial?The controversy surrounding the film began even before production was complete. It was initially announced in 2022 under the title Ghallughara, a word associated with historical massacres of Sikhs. Later, when the film was submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the title was changed to Panjab '95.The censor board reportedly asked the makers to make 21 cuts, citing concerns over the film's portrayal of the administration. The filmmakers challenged the decision in court. The matter eventually reached a revision committee, which reportedly recommended around 120 to 127 cuts.Instead of accepting those changes, the makers continued their legal fight. Nearly four years later, the film finally surfaced on ZEE5 under a new title, Satluj, without any promotional campaign. According to Diljit Dosanjh, the team intentionally avoided publicity because they feared that announcing the release in advance could once again delay the film.Who was Jaswant Singh Khalra?Jaswant Singh Khalra was a bank employee who became one of Punjab's most well-known human rights activists. During the 1990s, he investigated allegations that thousands of unidentified bodies had been secretly cremated by Punjab Police during the insurgency period.Khalra publicly accused senior police officials of being responsible for these alleged extrajudicial killings and even raised the issue internationally, including before Canada's House of Commons. The film recreates many of these events while changing the names of some real-life personalities. It also depicts Khalra's alleged abduction, torture and death in police custody.In reality, Khalra disappeared in 1995 and was widely believed to have been abducted. His body was never recovered. Years later, several Punjab Police personnel were convicted in connection with his abduction and murder, with their prison sentences later enhanced to life imprisonment by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.Why was Satluj removed from ZEE5?On Sunday evening, less than two days after the film premiered, ZEE5 announced that Satluj had been removed from its platform in India until further notice. In its statement, the streaming platform said the decision had been taken in light of "current developments." It added that it remained committed to exploring all legal options to restore the film and thanked viewers who had watched and supported it. ZEE5 also reiterated its support for the film and the creative vision behind it.According to PTI, citing a government official, the film was originally submitted to the CBFC in 2022 under the title Punjab 95. However, the makers did not accept the board's proposed 127 cuts and later released the film directly on OTT under the new title Satluj, without CBFC certification."“They kept sitting on the suggested cuts and eventually released the movie quietly on OTT with a new title. OTT does not come under the CBFC’s jurisdiction. When the matter came to the government’s notice, Zee was asked to take it (the film) down. The direction was given due to security concerns. The OTT platform was asked to follow the obligations under intermediary guidelines. If they want to release the film in theatres and OTT, they should follow the laid down norms.”Soon after the removal, pirated copies of the film reportedly began circulating online.Meanwhile, On Tuesday (July 7), DSGMC President Harmeet Singh Kalka reacted to the ban and said, "Since this film is a biographical portrayal of Jaswant Singh Khalra, it depicts how a social activist opened people's eyes to the truth. He uncovered evidence of 25,000 bodies that had been cremated as 'unclaimed' and raised the issue not only within the country but also internationally, highlighting the dire situation in Punjab. Suppressing this story, preventing the events of that dark era from reaching the public, is deeply wrong, and it has sparked immense outrage across the Sikh community."He also added that they have asked all Gurdwara committee members to download and screen the film in their respective areas to ensure that it reaches the public.Honey Trehan says he still doesn't know who opposed the filmBefore the film was taken down, Honey Trehan thanked ZEE5 and the producers for standing by the project. Speaking to Mid-Day, the director said he still does not know exactly who objected to the film over the years. He explained that all communication came through lawyers or intermediaries and that he never dealt directly with any individual or authority opposing the project.Trehan also said there came a point when communication with the censor board had stopped completely. He praised ZEE5 for taking the unusual decision to release the film without any prior marketing, saying he had never seen a launch handled in that manner before.Diljit Dosanjh reacts after the takedownDiljit Dosanjh also addressed the controversy during an Instagram Live session after the film was removed.The actor suggested that the team had anticipated the possibility of the film being taken down, which is why they opted for a surprise digital release instead of a traditional promotional campaign. He also thanked viewers who had downloaded and watched the film before it disappeared from the platform.With Satluj once again unavailable in India, the future of the film remains uncertain. While ZEE5 has expressed hope that it can bring the movie back through due process.