Standup comedian and political satirist Kunal Kamra has questioned why 127 cuts were recommended for "Satluj" (previously known as "Punjab '95") in light of Zee5 putting an unexplained pause on streaming the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer. In a note shared on his 'X' account, Kamra asked CBFC chairman Prasoon Joshi for an explanation, adding that CBFC has "no jurisdiction" when it comes to streaming content.
Kumra wrote: "Mr. Prasoon Joshi, can you please enlighten us on why 127 cuts were recommended for the film Panjab '95? The same film, now renamed ‘Satluj’, has been taken down from an OTT platform in less than two days. The CBFC has no jurisdiction over OTT platforms or international releases. Panjab '95 tells the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a man who exposed documented human rights abuses and paid for it with his life. If a film based on documented facts cannot be seen by Indian audiences, then the public deserves to know why. This sends a very direct message to filmmakers and production companies: if you're paying homage to a great personality from a minority community, you'll have to face the CBFC."
Kamra also urged journalists to ask the censor board "some hard questions."
"Why are some politically insensitive films able to pass with ease while others spend years in limbo?" he aksed, adding, "A red carpet for Kashmir Files, Bengal Files, and Kerala Story. Roses for Dhurandar 1 & 2, a fictional documentary/explainer for the unthinkable and the unexplainable. How does it feel to feast on four years of a director's career? In Nehru's India, this would have been litigated in court. If filmmakers cannot tell the stories of people who stood up for justice without years of obstruction, what kind of cinema are we encouraging them to make?"
He concluded his note with the line: "Jaswant Singh Khalra Abducted again, this time by the CBFC."
"Satluj", which began streaming on Zee5 in an uncut version, abruptly stopped streaming on Sunday evening, prompting intense debates and outrage on social media.
