Writer of ‘Sutlej’ raised questions by citing ‘The Kashmir Files’ and ‘The Kerala Story’, sought clarity on the decision to remove the film.

New Delhi .After actor Diljit Dosanjh’s film ‘Satluj’ was removed from the OTT platform, the debate regarding this decision has intensified. The film’s co-writer Niren Bhatt has raised questions on this action and said that if there is any kind of objection regarding a film, then the reasons related to it should be made clear. He believes that removing any creative work without detailed explanation cannot be considered in accordance with the spirit of healthy dialogue.

Niren Bhatt said that the biggest problem during the film process was the lack of communication. According to him, if there was any objection to any scene, topic or presentation, there should have been a discussion between the concerned parties. He said that the creators have the right to know the reasons for which their film was questioned and what aspects were expected to be changed. He believes that many disputes can be resolved through clear communication.

Regarding the removal of the film, he also mentioned other popular films. He said that if other films based on different sensitive subjects can reach the audience, then it cannot be considered appropriate to watch only one film from a different perspective. He also questioned whether it is appropriate to influence the performance of a film based on a possible apprehension. According to him, there should be a clear and transparent process behind any decision.

The story of ‘Sutlej’ is said to be inspired by the life of social worker Jaswant Singh Khalda. The film attempts to show the incidents in which he raised his voice against alleged human rights violations and investigation of suspicious cases. The story brings forth the struggle of a man who raised questions on sensitive issues and later faced mysterious circumstances himself. Due to this subject matter, the film remained in discussion from the beginning.

The name of this film was earlier named ‘Punjab 95’, which was later changed to ‘Sutlej’. Even after the name change, discussions and controversies continued regarding the film. After being removed from the OTT platform, this issue again came into limelight and a new debate has started regarding freedom of expression, creative freedom and film certification process.

Many people associated with the film industry believe that transparency and communication are very important in case of films based on sensitive subjects. He says that if there is any objection regarding any content, then its reasons should be brought out clearly, so that the producer, writer and other concerned parties can take necessary steps. This can reduce the situation of uncertainty and dispute.

At present, the questions raised regarding ‘Sutlej’ have once again intensified the discussion on how to strike a balance between creative expression and the regulatory process. The decisions and possible dialogue on this matter in the coming times will decide what the future path of the film will be and in what direction the resolution of the dispute related to it moves forward.