‘Satluj’ Review: A Moving Indian Activist Drama Pulled From Circulation

Honey Trehan’s long-suppressed social tome stars pop sensation Diljit Dosanjh in a powerful role.

By Siddhant Adlakha

Siddhant Adlakha

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Honey Trehan’s “Satluj” — about a Sikh activist in the 1990s investigating extrajudicial killings — conjures heavy emotions despite its hagiographic hues. Just as intriguing as its provocations are the controversies surrounding its release, starting with its unexplained removal from the Toronto International Film Festival lineup in 2023, then under the title “Punjab ’95.” This year, it finally evaded India’s censors on July 3rd, with a global digital release on the Indian streaming platform Zee5, though it was pulled for Indian viewers within 48 hours, and for international audiences the following week. However, this seemingly ancillary drama is central to the film’s mission statement, as an exposé of power and its suppression of truth.

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