'Aimed at educating youth about unspeakable tragedy': Akali Dal to screen Diljit Dosanjh's Satluj across Punjab after Zee5 pulls it down

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal announced on social media that the party would organise screenings of the film across Punjab to educate the younger generation about what he described as the "repression unleashed" by the then Congress governments.

SAD says film highlights Punjab's troubled past

In a post on X, Badal said the initiative was intended to ensure that today's youth and future generations understand the events surrounding the alleged human rights violations during the militancy era.

"This is aimed at ensuring that today's youth and our coming generations know about the unspeakable tragedy and repression unleashed by the then butcher Congress governments against Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra and thousands of other innocent Sikh youth who were eliminated through fake encounters," he wrote.

Badal said the film portrays the pain and trauma experienced by Punjab during one of its most turbulent periods.

"This film presents the agony of Punjab during that phase. The Sikh youth was going through profound religious stress following the horrendous and unforgivable attack on Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib and Sri Akal Takht Sahib," he added.

Film withdrawn amid controversy

Satluj was taken down from the Zee5 streaming platform within two days of its release after objections were raised over its content.

The move sparked criticism from several Sikh organisations and political groups, who alleged that the film had been removed under pressure.

The decision has since fuelled a wider debate over artistic freedom, censorship, and the portrayal of Punjab's turbulent history in cinema.

Storyline of Satluj

Satluj (originally titled Punjab '95) is a biographical political drama inspired by the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, played by Diljit Dosanjh. The film is set against the backdrop of Punjab's insurgency in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The story follows Khalra, an ordinary bank employee who begins investigating the disappearance of thousands of people allegedly picked up by security forces during the militancy period.

By examining municipal records and cremation registers, he uncovers evidence suggesting that thousands of unidentified bodies were secretly cremated without due legal process.

As Khalra pursues the truth, he comes into conflict with powerful police officials and the state machinery. Despite mounting threats, he continues his campaign to expose the alleged human rights violations.

The narrative culminates in his abduction in 1995 and the subsequent investigation into his disappearance, highlighting his courage and sacrifice in the fight for justice.

Directed by Honey Trehan, the film also stars Arjun Rampal, Suvinder Vicky, Kanwaljit Singh, Geetika Vidya Ohlyan, and Varun Badola.

The film has generated widespread debate because it depicts a sensitive period in Punjab's history and is based on real events surrounding Khalra's investigations into alleged extrajudicial killings and illegal cremations.