Director Honey Trehan has revealed that supporters of Satluj, the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer formerly known as Punjab 95, attempted to raise money to help the film’s team recover financial losses after its brief appearance on ZEE5.
In an emotional social media post, Trehan said the response from viewers and well-wishers had gone far beyond messages of support. According to the filmmaker, people from India and abroad reached out to him, the Khalra family and Diljit Dosanjh with offers of financial assistance following the film’s removal from the streaming platform.
Trehan said the team was even informed that gullaks, or donation boxes, had been placed in some gurudwaras by people who wanted to contribute towards the losses associated with the film.
However, the director made it clear that the team does not want to accept such contributions.
Honey Trehan says Satluj team will not accept donations
Reflecting on the support received after Satluj was taken off ZEE5, Trehan said the film’s team was deeply moved by the public response.
He wrote that the messages and offers of help were “truly special” but added that the team considers the love and support itself to be sufficient.
Trehan also stated that he, along with the film’s producers, RSVP, had accepted the financial consequences of the situation.
The filmmaker further asked supporters to ensure that any money collected in the name of Satluj or its team was not presented as an official collection connected to the film.
He said any such fundraising effort had no association with the Satluj team.
Satluj was removed from ZEE5 two days after release
Satluj made a surprise debut on ZEE5 on July 3, after spending years facing difficulties surrounding its release and certification.
The film was removed from the streaming service on July 5, only two days after becoming available.
The development triggered considerable discussion among viewers, particularly because the film had been awaiting release for a prolonged period.
The project, which was originally titled Punjab 95, is based around the life and legacy of human-rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Diljit Dosanjh plays the central role in the film.
Trehan has described the project as an attempt to remember Khalra and the people whose stories were affected by the events depicted in the film.
What happened to Satluj after its ZEE5 release?
The exact circumstances surrounding the film’s removal became a subject of public debate.
According to statements attributed to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and reports by news agencies, the film’s release had raised questions concerning the applicable certification requirements.
An official from the ministry was quoted by ANI as saying that the film did not have the required certification for a theatrical release and that its title had been changed before the OTT release.
The film was subsequently withdrawn from ZEE5.
There were also reports citing government concerns relating to national security and public order. These claims should be understood in the context of statements attributed to government officials and reports about the circumstances surrounding the film’s withdrawal.
ZEE5’s removal of the film shortly after its release became another chapter in the long-running release history of the project.
Honey Trehan calls Satluj a tribute to truth and human rights
Despite the financial setback, Trehan said the team believes Satluj can leave a lasting impact.
The director described the film as a small effort to share collective grief and remember people who were lost, irrespective of their caste, religion or social status.
Trehan also framed the project as a tribute to truth, human rights and the memory of Jaswant Singh Khalra.
Rather than encouraging financial contributions, he urged people to respond to difficult circumstances with kindness, courage and solidarity.
His message came as supporters continued to express their disappointment over the film’s brief availability on ZEE5 and their desire to support the people behind the project.
For Trehan and the Satluj team, however, the public response itself appears to have become an important part of the film’s journey.
