Satluj may have been pulled from ZEE5 in India, but overseas it's apparently doing better than ever.

Diljit Dosanjh's film had a quiet release on July 3, got good reviews, and was then abruptly taken down just two days later after the Centre cited "security concerns" under IT Rules 2021. 

Related: 'Satluj' takedown explained: Why government asked ZEE5 to remove Diljit's film

But while the ban triggered controversy at home, it seems to have done the opposite abroad.

A source told NDTV that ZEE5's overseas monthly downloads jumped by approximately 374 per cent following the film's release. 

"The film is good and portrays the truth to a considerable extent," the source added. ZEE5 itself hasn't officially confirmed any numbers, only saying it received a "tremendous response," the source said.

Kanwaljit Singh's reaction

Actor Kanwaljit Singh, who plays a key role in the film, spoke to director Honey Trehan after the takedown and said the makers plan to take the matter to court. But he's clearly frustrated. "What I don't understand is why did they have to take it off? Even people who weren't going to see it will want to see it now. It has also been downloaded by so many people, so even though lots of people would be watching it, the producers shall be losing out. But I want to ask, what is this freedom of speech? Tell me, I really want to know. That right is being strangled," he said.

All about the film

Satluj tells the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a bank clerk who became Punjab's most prominent human rights activist after investigating the cremation of around 25,000 unidentified bodies in the state between 1984 and 1994.

He was abducted in 1995 and later found to have been killed by Punjab Police personnel.

The film is produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Abhishek Chaubey under RSVP and MacGuffin Pictures, and also stars Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan.