Filmmaker Shashi Ranjan called ‘Satluj’ one of the finest films he’s seen, praising its emotional storytelling. He criticized its OTT removal, arguing bans only spark curiosity and that history on screen doesn’t mislead educated youth. Diljit Dosanjh’s film, earlier titled Punjab ’95, was pulled from ZEE5 within 48 hours over alleged police-excess portrayal.

Filmmaker and actor Shashi Ranjan has opened up about the film ‘Satluj’ and its removal from the OTT platform. Lauding the film’s storytelling and emotional depth, he called it one of the finest films he has come across in recent times. Recently, he pointed out its powerful narrative and strong performances. On the film’s removal from OTT, Shashi Ranjan voiced his disagreement with banning films rooted in historical subjects, adding that such curbs often fuel greater audience curiosity instead. He further added that portraying history through cinema does not mislead today’s well-informed youth, and expressed hope that the film would make its way back to a digital platform soon.

Shashi Ranjan praises the film’s emotional depth

Speaking to IANS, Shashi stated, “After a long time, I watched a film that left me with a threefold reaction. Firstly, I became extremely emotional after watching the film. Secondly, the story and the way it has been made completely took me by surprise. After so many years, I came across a film with such a beautiful narrative and such powerful emotions. Among all the films that have released in the past several years, this is one of the finest films I have seen.”“I believe that banning any kind of film does not serve any purpose; instead, it causes more harm. When a film is banned, it creates curiosity among people about why it was prohibited. I do not believe that showing history to today’s youth will lead them in the wrong direction. I strongly disagree with that notion. There have been many films that have highlighted the darker chapters of history. I do not think educated young audiences today will be distracted after watching such a film. I feel it is unfortunate that the film has been removed from OTT platforms, and I hope it returns soon,” added Shashi Ranjan.

‘Satluj’ and its removal from OTT

Diljit Dosanjh’s film ‘Satluj’ (earlier titled Punjab ’95) was pulled from the ZEE5 streaming platform in India merely 48 hours after its release. This abrupt removal followed concerns flagged by government authorities regarding the film’s depiction of alleged police excesses in Punjab during the 1990s. Just hours after being taken down from OTT, the film reportedly surfaced online through leaks.