Highlights
- Honey Trehan said only a small group of people knew Satluj would premiere on ZEE5.
- The director revealed the film's theatrical release was abandoned after years of certification hurdles.
- Trehan said Satluj, originally titled Punjab 95, faced more than 127 requested cuts before arriving on streaming.
Honey Trehan has shared how the makers of Satluj managed to keep its digital release under wraps after years of uncertainty, only for the film to be taken off ZEE5 in India hours after its debut.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India before the film was removed, the director described the tightly guarded plan that brought Satluj to streaming following a prolonged battle over certification.
A release few people knew about
Trehan said the premiere was planned in complete secrecy, with only the core teams at RSVP and ZEE5 aware of the launch. Outside that group, he said Diljit Dosanjh was the only person who knew the film would go live that evening.
The director admitted he found it difficult to believe the release was finally happening after years of delays. On the day of the premiere, he even messaged the production team asking whether the film would actually be released that night. Soon afterwards, he received a message from Dosanjh confirming it.
Trehan praised ZEE5 for standing by the film and successfully delivering the surprise release.
Why Satluj skipped theatersAccording to Trehan, the filmmakers always intended to release Satluj in cinemas. However, the project became caught in a lengthy certification process, with the Central Board of Film Certification repeatedly seeking changes.
He said the makers were asked to make numerous edits but were not given clear explanations for the requests. Although the team approached the courts, the situation remained unresolved.
Trehan said producer Ronnie Screwvala and ZEE5 eventually decided that a direct streaming release offered the best chance of getting the film to audiences. He added that the platform strongly believed the film deserved to be seen.
The director also said the response after the release had been overwhelming, with viewers from around the world reaching out to share their reactions.
The journey from Punjab 95 to Satluj
Trehan revealed that the film ultimately faced more than 127 requested cuts during the certification process. He said communication with the CBFC stopped after discussions in December, despite continued efforts by the producers to move the process forward.
He also explained why the film's title changed from Punjab 95 to Satluj. While Punjab 95 became widely associated with the project, Satluj had always been one of the original title options, alongside Gallughara.
Trehan said the team also encountered title registration issues involving a variation of "1995" and decided against pursuing another dispute while the film itself remained in limbo. Since Satluj was already registered by the production house, it became the preferred title.
He added that the decision was made by the filmmakers and producers, not by ZEE5, and said Satluj would have remained the title even if the film had secured a theatrical release.
