13 Comments
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Anikaa Mishra's avatar

Never in my entire life did I think that content streamed on an OTT platform could be taken down by government orders. Now I'm struggling to watch it on YouTube.

The spinelessness of the government couldn't have been more evident.

Vrat Droppings's avatar

Didn’t have the heart to see it but your piece has convinced me that I must. Thanks 🙏🏻

Working Title's avatar

Personally I am glad to watch a movie that makes you put effort into watching it and because I was watching on my phone, I could not watch reels alongside. Jokes apart, it's not the kind of movie with quick cuts to cater to the attention span.

As much as Jaswant Singh was a central character, I feel the atmosphere of Punjab (of that time) played a much more central role. Of all the characters in the story, Diljit's was easily overshadowed by the supporting cast, and even the production team (writing, dop etc).

It's as if the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Sandhill's avatar

Thanks bhai. Now it is on my must watch and asap list. Love listening to your recent podcast with Rofl. Was laughing out loud several times. You three have amazing chemistry. You always pick the right topic and appropriate gravity but Rofl has unique ability to cut to the vein of the argument. Might be the clearest thinker in India on current topics. Thanks for having him on

Poonam Sharma's avatar

I too was gonna go into watching this movie with similar mindset. It doesn't excites me as a stand alone piece of art, the context around it necessitates a watch. Now I am more curious about the movie. Thank you so much for writing this!

Pankaj Roy's avatar

I was watching your podcast where you guys mentioned briefly about the film Memories of Murder, I watched that long ago, and I must say while watching Satluj, it indeed evokes the inexplicable eeriness of the former. Not many Indian films evoke such feelings.

JustPassingThrough's avatar

I live outside of India and was able to find the movie on YouTube. It is a very well-made movie. It is very obvious that a lot of thought has gone into the casting of the various characters in the movie. The production has an authenticity that is usually lacking from mainstream and sometimes even alternative movies. The politics around the release of the movie are intriguing. The Modi government seems to be behaving like Jack Nicholson's famous character in A Few Good Men, screaming, "You can't handle the truth." I think the truth they want to hide is that their impunity and unaccountability are similar to those of the police in the movie. Autocrats by nature abhor accountability, and this film shines a bright light on the lack of any consequence for over a decade. Yes, we can't, and shouldn't, handle the truth when it is this ugly.

Suvinder Vicky is a gem of an actor. I have seen him in multiple movies, and he never disappoints. Anything with him and Jaideep Ahlawat is always a must-watch.

UNRIVALED's avatar

tl;dr my propaganda good, your propaganda bad

Ganga Sharma's avatar

Wow! Detailed Reflection 🪞...Ganga 🪔

Dipankar Khasnabish's avatar

Is the movie a red herring because it talks of a dark chapter, or because it throws light on courage?

If the first is true, then Kerala Files will not be celebrated.

But courage is dangerous; it is respected even by adversaries. And it risks being contagious.

More so when it is from history, which is difficult to change, and the person paid the ultimate price for no material benefits.

All walks into the face of someone who became a Sardar to avoid jail during the dark hours.