Days after Satluj was removed from ZEE5 in India, the film is finding a new audience across Punjab—not on OTT, but through community screenings in villages. Based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, Satluj is now being screened on projectors and large LED screens in several villages, with locals gathering in large numbers to watch the film together.
People behind the screening
The screenings have largely been organised by local youth groups, who have been setting up screens in the open courtyards of village gurdwaras and community spaces. The initiative has received an overwhelming response, with people from all age groups turning up for the screenings, many of whom had not watched the film during its OTT release.
Districts of screening
On Tuesday night alone, screenings were held in Pandori village of Amritsar district, Shekhupura and Panjwar villages in Gurdaspur, besides several villages in Tarn Taran district. Apart from local residents, religious organisations and social groups have also joined the initiative. In Gurdaspur, sports promoter Sultan Singh organised a special screening for athletes and villagers, turning the event into a community gathering.
Opposite effect of the ban
The film's removal from the streaming platform appears to have had the opposite effect. Instead of fading from public attention, Satluj has generated even greater interest, with more villages now planning similar screenings in the coming days. For many people living in rural Punjab, especially elderly residents who do not use OTT platforms, these public screenings have become their first opportunity to watch the film.
Inspiration of the film
The movie tells the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra, the human rights activist who exposed the alleged illegal cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies during Punjab's militancy period. His investigation drew national as well as international attention and remains one of the most significant human rights campaigns in the state's history.
Other platforms
Besides public screenings, the film is also being widely shared on messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, further increasing its reach after its removal from ZEE5. The controversy surrounding the film has only added to public curiosity, with many people now making an effort to watch it through alternative means.
Support from DSGMC
Meanwhile, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has also come out in support of the film. Opposing its removal from the OTT platform, DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Kalka said the committee would organise public screenings in different areas and hold seminars in educational institutions to ensure that Jaswant Singh Khalra's story continues to reach people. He said removing a film from a streaming platform cannot erase an important chapter of Punjab's history and that Khalra's contribution should be remembered by future generations.