The makers behind Sutlej have confirmed that the film has finally been released on ZEE5, ending a long wait for audiences. During a recent conversation, director Honey Trehan also addressed the reason behind the film’s title change and the significance of its new name.

Asked why the title had to be changed, Honey Trehan explained that they were unable to secure the rights to the original title. “We couldn’t get the rights to the original title for certain reasons. Everything else remained the same—the director, the story, everything,” he said.

When asked whether the version now streaming was exactly the film that the team had intended to make, Honey Trehan responded unequivocally. “Yes. It’s exactly the version that cleared the censors,” he said.

When revealed how strongly the filmmakers had felt about preserving the film’s integrity. Honey Trehan said, “If they had asked for even a single cut, I wouldn’t have let it be released. Both Diljit and I had decided that if there was even one cut, we’d take our names off the project,” .

Reassuring viewers, Honey Trehan added, “The version on ZEE5 is exactly the way we intended it.”

The conversation then turned to the meaning behind the title Sutlej. Explaining its significance, Honey Trehan said the river is one of Punjab’s most important waterways and carries deep historical symbolism.

“The Sutlej is one of Punjab’s major rivers. It flows through and connects much of the region. Beyond that, it has a deeper symbolic meaning that you’ll understand once you watch the film,” he said.

Pressed to reveal a little more, Honey Trehan shared a haunting historical reference. “During the years of large-scale violence and killings, many bodies were thrown into the Sutlej River.”

Elaborating further, he explained that as the river flows from Punjab into Rajasthan, bodies would often become trapped at the barrages along its course. “So the river carries deep historical and emotional significance. It’s also closely tied to the film’s climax,” he said.

About Punjab 95 which is now Sutlej

The film is based on the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist who exposed the illegal abduction torture and cremation of 25000 individuals during the counter insurangency operation in the 1080 and 1990.
The censor board asked the makers to 127 cuts and replacing the real life name of the human rights activists but the makers refused to make any changes or cuts.