Controversy surrounding Diljit DosanjhThe film ‘Satluj’ has faced fresh criticism, with Federation of West Indian Cine Employees (FWICE) president BN Tiwari questioning the actor-singer’s choice of projects. In an exclusive interview with IANS, Tiwari said actors should not do films purely for financial gain and must consider their wider responsibilities and public image while choosing roles.
BN Tiwari on why content like ‘Satluj’ should be ‘carefully scrutinized’
When asked specifically about the removal of Satluj by Indian OTT platform ZEE5, BN Tiwari told IANS: “Actually, if certain content creates problems in society, then such content should be scrutinized carefully. Movies are meant to entertain and also carry some message, but if the government repeatedly intervenes or the censor board finds problems, it means that there are elements in it that are not suitable for public viewing.”“
BN Tiwari discusses vetting process
Tiwari went on to question the logic of a film that has already passed the censorship process in India being reconsidered, saying, “Even if the film has passed the censorship and later the Indian government feels that it may spread misinformation, disrupt social harmony, or be misused by harmful elements, then it is better that such a film be stopped early.”
BN Tiwari on why Diljit Dosanjh chose to do ‘controversial film’
The FWICE Chairman then turned his attention directly to Diljit Dosanjh, expressing surprise at the actor’s choice of project, stating: “I am surprised why Diljit Dosanjh chose to make a controversial film. He should understand the implications of such decisions. He is a superstar from Punjab and should be considered carefully so as not to affect his image. Today he has a huge fan base around the world. “Elaborating further on the guiding principles that he believes should guide an artist’s choice of roles, Tiwari said, “As far as I understand, it is also the artist’s responsibility not to do films for money or any other reason. One has to keep in mind ‘country first’. I am not saying that he does not have any responsibility towards the country, he has many and he is very talented.” But before embarking on such a plan, he must first reflect. “
More on ‘Satluj’ and the controversy surrounding Diljit Dosanjh starrer
Satluj is directed by Honey Trehan and is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The film, which premiered on ZEE5 India on Friday under the title “Satluj”, had been delayed for years due to censorship issues and was initially submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification in 2022 under the title “Punjab 95” and was reportedly required to make as many as 127 cuts before release.To everyone’s surprise, just two days later on Sunday, the film was pulled from the platform in India. In a statement shared on social media, ZEE5 said, “In view of the current developments, ‘Satluj’ will be released in India until further notice. We remain committed to exploring all appropriate avenues through due process to bring the film back to the audience at the earliest.” The streaming platform also thanked the audience for the overwhelming response and expressed its firm support for the film and its creative vision.The sudden removal has since sparked a wider debate, with Diljit Dosanjh himself taking to an Instagram Live session to thank fans for watching the film before it was removed, and now FWICE’s BN Tiwari has weighed in on whether artists should be involved in such a politically sensitive project.
