Indian film on Punjab crackdown faces censorship, director says

Director Honey Trehan says his film 'Satluj' is being blocked by Indian censors because it tells the story of a dark period in Punjab's history. The movie depicts the 1990s crackdown on a separatist movement, during which police carried out thousands of extrajudicial killings and illegal cremations. The film focuses on Jaswant Singh Khalra, an activist who exposed these crimes and was murdered for his efforts. Khalra remains a hero in Punjab. Trehan, who grew up in Punjab, said the film's censorship is 'dystopian' and represents a 'revolutionary act to watch it.' He has wanted to make this film for years, as he witnessed the devastation firsthand. The Indian government has not commented on the censorship decision. The period shown in the film is considered one of the most painful in India's modern history. The separatist insurgency in Punjab largely ended by the mid-1990s, but the human rights abuses during the crackdown remain a sensitive topic. Trehan hopes his film will bring attention to the events and honor those who suffered. 'It is a story that needs to be told,' Trehan said. He plans to challenge the censorship decision. The film's release remains uncertain.