Indian singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh has finally broken his silence after his controversial film ‘Sutlej’ was abruptly removed from the streaming platform ZEE5 in India, just two days after its July 3 release. During a recent Instagram Live session, Dosanjh casually dismissed concerns about the film’s future, asserting that in the digital era, once content reaches the public, it becomes immortal. He shared that while he was worried initially, he is no longer anxious because a vast number of people have already watched and downloaded the movie, meaning it will always exist in some form regardless of when it officially re-releases.
Directed by Honey Trehan, ‘Sutlej’ is a biopic based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who exposed alleged extrajudicial killings and secret cremations during the militancy era in Punjab. The film has faced a turbulent journey; originally titled ‘Punjab 95’, its release was stalled for over three years due to central censor board objections demanding more than 120 cuts. Although it was eventually renamed and cleared for its July 3 premiere, ZEE5 pulled the film just 48 hours later citing “current circumstances,” stating it would remain unavailable in India until legal and administrative formalities are sorted. The platform did not specify the exact reason for the takedown or clarify its availability in international markets.
Meanwhile, Diljit’s defiant remarks have gone viral, sparking a massive online debate regarding censorship, freedom of expression, and the availability of digital content. Social media users are widely hailing his statement as a definitive reality check on modern censorship, highlighting how nearly impossible it has become to restrict or completely erase content once it hits the internet.
