Gul Panag supported Diljit Dosanjh’s film Satluj, said- painful history should not be erased
Actor Gul Panag has reacted to the removal of Satluj from ZEE5, saying that India should never stop telling stories about the difficult chapters of its history. Recalling his childhood in terrorism-hit Punjab, he said that it is because of those painful memories that such stories should continue to be told.
Actress Gul Panag reacts to the controversy surrounding the removal of the Diljit Dosanjh starrer. Satluj From ZEE5 within 48 hours of streaming. Having grown up in Punjab during the years of terrorism, she said stories based on painful periods of history should continue to be told rather than erased.
The film, which is based on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, is about the disappearances and illegal cremations of thousands of unidentified bodies during Punjab’s insurgency era in the 1980s and 1990s.
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Panag said those memories only strengthen his belief that stories like this should remain part of the public discussion.
Sharing her thoughts on
He said that because of those experiences he believes that difficult moments in history should not be forgotten.
She added, “It is because of those memories that I do not believe we should become so uncomfortable with the difficult chapters of our history that we stop telling stories about them.”
The film has remained at the center of controversy since the certification process. Producer RSVP submitted it to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in late 2022. After about six months, the board reportedly cleared the film with 21 cuts and instructed the makers to change its title. Ghallughara To Punjab ’95.
The production house challenged this decision in the Bombay High Court. Around the same time, the film’s scheduled grand premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival was also cancelled.
Following court proceedings, the film was sent to the CBFC’s revision committee, which reportedly increased the number of suggested cuts from 21 to 127. The producers also alleged that they were asked to change the name of the film’s protagonist, Jaswant Singh Kalra, on whom the film is based. After refusing to accept those changes, the film remained unreleased in India for years.
Satluj It eventually premiered on ZEE5 in its uncut version on 3 July. However, the film was removed from the platform within 48 hours.
The Center later directed ZEE5 to remove the film citing security concerns under Information Technology (IT) rules. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and several Punjab-based political parties objected to the move. Diljit Dosanjh also reacted to this development and said that eviction was bound to happen.
In a statement shared on Instagram, ZEE5 thanked viewers for their overwhelming response Satluj. The platform said it was extremely grateful to everyone who subscribed to watch and support the film, adding that the love it received meant a lot to both the streaming service and the team behind the project.
The platform also expressed hope that the film will make a comeback. “In the light of current developments, Satluj Will be unavailable in India until further notice. “We are committed to exploring every appropriate avenue through the due process to get the film back in front of our audiences as soon as possible,” the statement said.
Satluj Stars Diljit Dosanjh, Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan.