Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma Praises Diljit Dosanjh Satluj Amid Takedown Controversy

Mumbai :  Maverick filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has weighed heavily into the ongoing political and cinematic storm surrounding the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj. Taking to social media platform X, the veteran director shared a detailed, highly emotional review of the biographical drama, describing it as a "deep wound that will never heal" and urging government authorities not to suppress its exhibition.

 Varma’s public endorsement comes directly in the wake of the Union Government ordering streaming giant ZEE5 to pull down the Honey Trehan-directed venture under Section 69A of the IT Act, just 48 hours after its quiet premiere. The film traces the real-life journey of late human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated thousands of undocumented, illegal cremations by state police in Punjab during the turbulent 1990s.

 Praising the project as "cinema used as confrontation," Varma lauded Dosanjh's restrained performance. He noted that the actor handles the challenging role with a "quiet fury" that completely avoids standard, loud heroism, relying solely on "a ledger and a conscience" to drive the narrative forward.

He also commended co-star Arjun Rampal for effectively embodying institutional complicity.  Furthermore, Varma highly credited Trehan’s direction for keeping the film balanced, treating it like a slow-burn investigative thriller through dusty bureaucratic files and hushed conversations rather than exploiting the inherent horror.

He stated that the structural hurdles and censorship battles surrounding the movie validate its cultural importance, writing that "any art which makes the powerful uncomfortable has done its job." Concluding his appeal by quoting philosopher Ayn Rand, the veteran director warned that "truth hits harder when one tries to hide it," pleading with authorities not to silence the piece of history.