Community screenings of the Indian film 'Satluj' have sparked a debate over artistic freedom and censorship in India. The film, which tells the true story of a human rights activist investigating extrajudicial killings during Punjab's insurgency, was initially stalled for three years by India's censor board, which demanded over 120 cuts. After failing to secure a theatrical release, it debuted on the ZEE5 streaming platform but was removed just two days later due to security concerns, according to local media. This has led to a grassroots movement where Sikh organizations, local activists, and residents are organizing community screenings using online copies. These screenings are not just about watching a film but also about revisiting and sharing the painful memories of one of India's bloodiest internal conflicts.
The film 'Satluj' focuses on the life of rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, whose investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings exposed a dark chapter in Punjab's history. The conflict between Sikh militant groups seeking an independent Khalistan and Indian security forces resulted in thousands of civilian, militant, and police lives lost. During the insurgency, rights groups documented enforced disappearances, custodial killings, and secret cremations, with Khalra's investigation alleging that thousands of disappeared people were cremated anonymously by police without notifying their families or maintaining official records. Khalra himself was abducted and later killed, with several police officers convicted in his murder.
The screenings are organized through grassroots cooperation, with residents providing projectors, audio speakers, and power generators, and Sikh temples and village community spaces becoming makeshift cinemas. Inderjeet Singh Bains, who helps coordinate screenings in Gurdaspur district, emphasizes the initiative's goal of creating spaces for collective reflection on a period of Punjab's history that continues to resonate across generations. The film has resonated deeply with audiences, including elderly survivors of the insurgency and teenagers born years after it ended. Gurmukh Singh, who attended a screening, noted that the film gave voice to stories the young in Punjab had only heard in fragments, and for many families, the insurgency remains a lived experience with the loss of loved ones.
The takedown of 'Satluj' has reignited a debate over artistic freedom in India, where films have increasingly faced censorship battles under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government. Critics accuse the government of promoting films that align with its nationalist narrative and censoring those that challenge it. Balwinder Singh, a Sikh religious leader, argues that the truth should be allowed to come to light, and people should be able to see it. ZEE5, the streaming platform where the film was initially available, stated that the film would no longer be available in India due to current developments and that it would explore every appropriate avenue through due process to restore it.
Despite the film's removal, Diljit Dosanjh, the lead actor who plays Khalra, expressed unconcern about its availability online, stating that once audiences have seen it, it cannot be erased. This sentiment is evident in Punjab's villages, where the film has sparked conversations and comparisons with real-life memories. Pawan Deep Kaur described the film as a heartbreaking portrayal of the suffering endured by the older generation, and many attendees lingered in conversation, sharing their own experiences and emotions.
The screenings of 'Satluj' serve as a powerful reminder of the impact of art in challenging censorship and preserving historical memories. As the debate over artistic freedom and censorship continues in India, these community screenings demonstrate the power of collective reflection and the importance of sharing and preserving painful memories for future generations.
