Sikh community screens banned biopic, sparking open defiance in Punjab

India’s censorship board refused certification for the movie "Satluj," a biographical drama about activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, and the streaming platform Zee5 pulled it after two days online. In response, Sikh clergy and community groups arranged open-air viewings in Amritsar and rural villages, while residents circulated unauthorized copies through messaging apps and video sites. Government representatives warned the film might stir separatist feelings, a concern amplified by recent tensions with Sikh diaspora groups abroad.

Scholars note the backlash reflects lingering grievances over unresolved police violence from the 1990s. Filmmaker Honey Trehan described a four-year stall by certification officials, and a BJP official acknowledged the film could influence public psychology over time. The episode underscores the Indian government's view of cinema as a tool for shaping public opinion.