Singer Jasbir Jassi, widely known for his pop hit 'Dil Le Gayee', has publicly backed actor Diljit Dosanjh and director Honey Trehan for their biographical drama Satluj, calling it an act of courage and urging audiences to stand with truth and humanity. Jassi's remarks came after the film was pulled from an OTT platform just one day after its premiere, sparking widespread debate.

About the Film

Satluj — originally developed under the working title Punjab 95 — is a biographical drama directed by Honey Trehan. It chronicles the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings allegedly carried out by the Punjab Police during the Punjab insurgency of the early 1990s. The film stars Diljit Dosanjh alongside Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky, and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan.

What Jasbir Jassi Said

Speaking in Punjabi in a video he shared online, Jassi said the film had generated more discussion than almost any Punjabi film in recent memory. He congratulated Trehan for choosing a subject he described as being 'for the benefit of Punjab and humanity.' 'I don't think any of the old films have been discussed so much,' he said.

Jassi also praised Dosanjh for accepting the role, noting that portraying Khalra demanded real conviction. 'When a person leaves his family for the service of humanity, ignores his life, takes his life for the sake of humanity — Khalra was a hero of that time,' he said. He added that he did not know why the film was removed from the platform, but offered his view: 'Sometimes people are afraid of the truth. It is very difficult to speak the truth. It is very difficult to recognise the truth.'

Jassi, who said he was speaking from America at the time, noted that wherever he met people, they were all talking about the film. He closed by invoking Sikh teaching: 'We have been taught by our Guru that we should stand with the truth. We should stand for Punjab.'

The OTT Controversy

Satluj was removed from its OTT platform within 24 hours of its release, a development that has not been officially explained by the platform or the film's producers. The removal has drawn sharp reactions from the Punjabi entertainment community and diaspora audiences, with many viewing it as an attempt to suppress a sensitive chapter of Punjab's history. Notably, the film had already faced a prolonged journey to release, reportedly encountering hurdles related to its subject matter.

Significance of Khalra's Story

Jaswant Singh Khalra documented what he alleged were thousands of secret cremations of victims of police custody deaths during the Punjab militancy era. He was abducted in 1995 and subsequently killed — a case that remains one of the most cited instances of enforced disappearance in post-independence India. His work was later acknowledged by international human rights bodies. Bringing this story to mainstream cinema, observers note, carries both cultural weight and political sensitivity.

What Happens Next

No official statement from the OTT platform explaining the removal had been issued at the time of reporting. The film's team has not publicly announced an alternate release plan, though audience demand — amplified by voices like Jassi's — continues to grow. Whether Satluj returns to streaming or finds another distribution route is expected to become clearer in the coming days.