Banned in India, Buzzing Global : OTT Downloads Jump 374% Overseas

Diljit Dosanjh’s much-awaited film Satluj has reportedly triggered a massive rise in overseas interest for streaming platform ZEE5, with international app downloads increasing by around 374% after the film’s release.

The film, originally titled Panjab ’95, was released on ZEE5 on 3 July after years of delays. It is inspired by the life of Sikh human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and features Diljit Dosanjh in the lead role.

The controversy that increased curiosity

Within just two days of release, Satluj was removed from ZEE5’s India catalogue. The platform said the film would be unavailable in India “until further notice” due to “current developments”, leading to widespread discussion online.

Instead of reducing interest, the removal appears to have created the classic “Streisand effect” — where attempts to suppress information often make people more curious about it.

For the Indian diaspora, in overseas, the film became more than entertainment ,it became a conversation about history, identity, freedom of expression and storytelling.