Diljit Dosanjh's Satluj Controversy: Akali Dal Announces Screenings in Every Punjab Village

Akali Dal's decision to take Diljit Dosanjh's Satluj directly to Punjab's villages has turned the film's OTT controversy into one of the biggest political and cultural flashpoints of the year. Days after the movie disappeared from ZEE5, the battle has shifted from streaming platforms to village grounds, with politicians, religious bodies and film personalities joining the debate.

Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has strongly denied allegations that the Centre ordered the film's removal. Calling Diljit an "impostor," Bittu said the actor was trying to portray himself as Punjab's voice while presenting only one side of the state's painful militancy years. He argued that Punjab deserves the "whole truth," insisting the film ignores several crucial aspects of that turbulent period and urging the makers to explain why it vanished from ZEE5 just 48 hours after release.

On the other side, Shiromani Akali Dal , along with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) , Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and even members of Waris Punjab De , has announced that Satluj will be screened in villages, gurdwaras and public grounds across Punjab. Party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said no one can erase Punjab's history by removing a film from an OTT platform.

What's making the story even more dramatic is the response from ordinary Punjabis. According to actor Suvinder Vicky , villagers have started arranging projectors, generators and community screenings , treating the exercise as "seva" rather than entertainment. The actor described the overwhelming public support as the biggest reward for everyone associated with the film.

Originally titled Punjab '95 , Honey Trehan's film is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra , played by Diljit Dosanjh. The project spent nearly three years battling certification hurdles before finally premiering on ZEE5 on July 3 . However, it was removed in India on July 5 , reigniting the long-running censorship debate.

Diljit has also broken his silence, saying he had always expected resistance to the film. During an Instagram Live session, the actor remarked that once audiences have seen a film, "it cannot be erased," while maintaining a calm stance despite the growing controversy. Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has also backed the film, calling it a must-watch amid the ongoing row.