Despite being pulled from the streaming platform within just 48 hours of its release, ‘Satluj’ is still reaching viewers through unconventional channels. Suvinder Vickywho plays SSP Surjit Singh Sugga, the film’s antagonist, says communities across Punjab have started organizing group screenings, approaching the film almost as an act of ‘seva’.“While the Honey Trehan-directed film remains mired in controversy over its withdrawal, Suvinder points out that this wave of public support has turned out to be the project’s biggest reward.
Suvinder Vicky: ‘People treat it like their own’
In an interview with NDTV, Suvinder revealed that he has been deeply touched by the lengths audiences have gone to to ensure that the film reaches people. “People are treating it like their own. Many had already downloaded it before it was taken down, and now they’re sharing it with others. I have heard that people take projectors to villages in Punjab and organize screenings. Just like people do theirs during Guruparab by serving langar or chabeel, they are treating this movie the same way. This really touched my heart,” she said.
Suvinder Vicky on set calm and focused with Diljit
Suvinder also appreciated Dosanjh’s discipline and focus while working, describing him as a supportive colleague and “a true artist” whose devotion to his craft, he felt, would inevitably pay off. He recalled that the set had an unusually quiet atmosphere, as neither of them was inclined to converse between takes, choosing to remain absorbed in their characters. He said conversation was something both actors shied away from, Diljit avoided it to keep unwanted distractions at bay and stay in character, while Suvinder admitted he needed the same kind of focus, which is what kept the set so calm.
Suvinder Vicky recalls the most difficult scenes to shoot
The actor singled out the torture sequences between his character Sugga and Diljit’s Jaswant Singh Khalra as one of the most physically taxing parts of the shoot. He recalled one scene in particular, where Diljit was left hanging while Suvinder had to repeatedly throw pamphlets at him during an interrogation, with the obligation to hit his face with each one. According to Suvinder, the shot required several takes as nailing the timing was not easy. She admitted to feeling a lot of pressure acting alongside Diljit, knowing there was little room for error. More often than not, the flyers would veer off target, hit Diljit’s neck or miss altogether, which meant the scene had to be shot over and over again.
Suvinder Vicky on Diljit’s patience: ‘Bhaiji, koi gal ni’
Again and again, after the pamphlets were not his point, Suvinder would apologize to Diljit. Each time, however, the actor responded with nothing but a smile and the words, “Bhaiji, koi gal ni (It’s okay, don’t worry).” Suvinder, recalling this, spoke of Diljit’s patience and humility in glowing terms, even calling him a ‘son of God’. On the continuous road blocks that ‘Satluj’ has faced even after its release after years of delay, Suvinder chose not to speculate on the causes. He simply felt that anyone pushing to have the film banned would do well to see it first: they might not find anything in it to justify such a move.
Suvinder Vicky for fear of being typecast as “the butcher”
Suvinder also spoke of his initial concern that audiences might have trouble separating him from Sugga, a character modeled after a real-life police officer who was once dubbed the “Butcher” of the region. However, he said the reaction he received was overwhelmingly positive. Suvinder noted that not a single person responded with hostility or abuse; instead, viewers praised her performance, which she called the highest compliment she could have asked for.
Suvinder Vicky’s film and his long battle with the CBFC
Shot and completed almost four years ago, ‘Satluj’ has had a long and complicated journey to the big screen. It was first sent to the CBFC under the title Ghallughara and reportedly got the go-ahead with 21 cuts, before being told to rename it “Punjab ’95”. After a legal battle, the review committee is said to have pushed for as many as 127 cuts, along with a demand to change the name of the protagonist Jaswant Singh Khalra. When the producers backed out and refused, it ended up delaying the film’s release in India for years.
Suvinder Vicky’s film was shot within 48 hours of its release
The film finally reached viewers on ZEE5 on July 3, streaming in its uncut form, only to be pulled within 48 hours after the Center asked the platform to take it down, citing security concerns under information technology (IT) norms. Meanwhile, the decision faced rejection from the SGPC and several political parties in Punjab Diljit Dosanjh he would later comment that the elimination “was bound to happen.” Headed by Honey TrehanSatluj features Diljit Dosanjh, Arjun RampalSuvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan in the main roles.