Satluj row snowballs as movie pulled down from Zee5 internationally days after India takedown
The removal was first noticed by users on social media. Several people on X and Reddit said the film was no longer available outside India either.
PTC News Desk: The controversy surrounding Satluj is no longer limited to India after the film now remains unavailable on Zee5 internationally, triggering a fresh wave of discussion among viewers overseas.
When SCREEN reached out to director Honey Trehan about the development, he confirmed the removal and simply said, “Yes.” The film’s removal from ZEE5 internationally has sparked fresh discussion across social media. On X, one user flagged the development, writing, “So it’s been removed internationally as well.”
The removal was first noticed by users on social media. Several people on X and Reddit said the film was no longer available outside India either. Some users claimed the move suggested that efforts to remove the film were continuing.
The controversy has also increased public interest in the film. Some social media users said many people who had never heard of Satluj became aware of it only after it was taken down. Others noted that pirated versions of the film had already started circulating online, while saying the filmmakers deserved to earn from their work.
Earlier, after removing the film in India, ZEE5 issued a statement saying, "In light of the current developments, Satluj will be unavailable in India until further notice. We remain committed to exploring every appropriate avenue through due process to bring the film back to our audiences at the earliest opportunity."
Following the takedown, co-producer Ronnie Screwvala's RSVP Movies also confirmed through a spokesperson that the government had ordered the film's removal, while expressing hope that it would return soon.
According to media reports, a government official said the film was originally submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2022 under the title Punjab 95. The CBFC reportedly suggested 127 cuts, but the filmmakers did not accept them. The official claimed the film was later released directly on an OTT platform under the new title Satluj without CBFC certification, after which ZEE5 was asked to remove it over security concerns.