Along with the entire story of the controversial film ‘Sutlej’ directed by Honey Trehan, some of its scenes and dialogues should also be taken into consideration. These dialogues are part of the film shown on ZEE5. This film was released on ZEE5 without the cuts instructions given by CBFC, after which action was taken on it and it was removed from OTT. Viewers in India cannot currently watch this film on OTT. But during the forty-eight hours the message of this film had reached many audiences and critics.
Many viewers had also downloaded it. What’s more, this film was also seen uncut on YouTube on Monday afternoon. On the other hand, the main actors of the film Diljit Dosanjh issued a statement that even though this film was removed from OTT, we are happy that the filmmaker’s mission of bringing the truth to the world was accomplished. People all over the world are watching it and even showing it to their friends.
Why did ‘Punjab 95’ become ‘Sutlej’?
Let us tell you that this matter has been in controversy for more than three years. Earlier the name of this film was Punjab 95. Then CBFC took objection to its name and 27 cuts were made. The matter reached the Bombay High Court and then the Revision Committee, from where 127 cuts were recommended. There were demands for changes in many scenes including changing the names of the characters in the film. But the makers of the film did not accept all this. After which it was released without any cuts on ZEE5 last Friday under the name Satluj.
Let us tell you that the tag line of this film is – “I challenge the darkness.” This dialogue is of the main character Jaswant Singh in the film, played by Diljit Dosanjh. The entire film has been shot in darkness. Making the entire film with dark colors also seems to have its own special purpose. The director has given the color of struggle against injustice. Many scenes in Uncut Satluj are very scary and its dialogues are shocking. Satluj has also been accused that the scenes and dialogues shown in it are promoting the intentions of the separatists. The manner in which the issue of human rights has been raised in the film puts the police action against terrorism in the dock.
That dialogue of Diljit Dosanjh in Canada
At one place in the film, it is shown that the Canadian government invites Jaswant Singh (Diljit Dosanjh), who is fighting for human rights. Here Jaswant Singh presents the complete report of Punjab to the world. Diljit Dosanjh’s dialogue in the World Sikh Organization conference held in Canada is as follows – “I have come here for a special mission. I have come among you all with a special report on human rights. This report tells about the coercion that has taken place in Punjab during the last ten years. Thousands of mothers in Punjab are waiting for their children. There is only one question in their eyes – they want to know if someone can just tell whether their children are alive or not. When we went out to search for the missing people, we came to know that thousands of people were declared unclaimed and were burnt in the crematoriums. Statistics show that around twenty-five thousand unclaimed dead bodies were burnt in this manner, but no response was received from the government. These victims do not ask for death certificate of their children. Today, I want to appeal to all those who consider me as the messiah of democracy. You believe in the Prophet, first know his reality and then say who is a terrorist.”
Many objectionable dialogues in the name of cinematic liberty
Diljit Dosanjh’s dialogue at the World Sikh Organization conference in Canada raises question marks on Indian democracy. After this, there is also a dialogue that if raising voice against police atrocities and exposing their truth is to be called a terrorist, then I am a terrorist. How can such a dialogue be justified in the name of cinematic liberty, when the world knows that when terrorism was at its peak in Punjab, the Punjab Police had displayed courage and rooted out terrorism. This film does not focus at all on the bravery of the police but instead puts the police in the dock.
In the film, when Jaswant Singh is made missing, the dialogue of CBI officer Arjun Rampal is- “This is not just the case of Kuljit Singh, sir, after independence, Punjab has faced more massacres. Look at the history of Punjab – be it the issue of river water, Anantapur Sahib case, 84 riots, terrorism, President’s rule, murder of Chief Minister and now Jaswant Singh… What is Punjab paying for after all?”
The morale of the police fighting against terrorism breaks.
There are many such small dialogues in the film in which Punjab, regionalism and community are repeatedly mentioned. There are so many of these things in the film that they can incite the sentiments of separatists in today’s times. This aspect of the film cannot at all be called positive for national integrity. The film can boost the morale of the separatists and break the morale of the security system. This is a serious allegation against the film.
Let us tell you that this film tells the story of the struggle of Jaswant Singh Khalra or Khalda. Jaswant Singh used to work in a bank but later became a human rights activist. Struggled to identify twenty-five thousand unclaimed dead bodies during the peak of terrorism in Punjab. Jaswant Singh had troubled the Punjab Police by collecting the data of people killed and burnt. After which the Punjab Police officer first made him disappear and when he did not agree, he brutally shot him. The stomach of the dead body was torn open and thrown into the river.
There is no mention of Pakistan behind terrorism in Punjab
Although the story of the film is fine, director Honey Trehan and the team of writers Niren Bhatt and Utsav Maitra made some major mistakes in presenting it. However, the making of the film troubles both the heart and mind. The detailing, cinematography and acting of the actors are all excellent. Simply, it was not appropriate to leave out some important points in the film. For example, when the character of human rights activist Jaswant Singh is being formed and the script is moving forward, there is no mention of the roots of terrorism anywhere in it. Everyone knows Pakistan’s conspiracy behind terrorism in Punjab but there is no hint of this in the film. Rather, it presents Punjab Police as the villain. The entire issue is not resolved within the country but is raised on the platform of Canada Sikh Forum and Amnesty International.
Diljit Dosanjh’s acting impressed again
At the acting level, Diljit Dosanjh has given a shocking performance. This will be counted among Diljit’s memorable films. In the film, Geetika plays the role of Diljit’s wife, Kanwaljeet Singh plays the role of DGP Bitta and Suvinder Vicky plays the role of Surjeet Singh Sugga, giving weight to the film. Yes, Arjun Rampal looks very comfortable as a CBI officer in the film. The film begins with the voice over of Arjun Rampal and ends with the statement of the witness Kuljeet presented by him in the court, after which the entire story of Jaswans Singh is revealed to the world.
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