The ongoing political and social controversy surrounding the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj could trigger a massive regulatory shift for digital cinema in India. According to a report by India Today, the Central Government is actively considering a policy change that would make Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) clearance mandatory for all movies premiering directly on OTT platforms.
Currently, films bypassing theaters for a direct-to-digital release do not legally require a theatrical censorship certificate. However, Satluj premiered on Zee5 earlier this month without a CBFC certificate, prompting the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and associated ministries to review the current legal loopholes.
Potential Action Against Zee5
Citing senior government sources, the report highlights that the state considers streaming an uncertified version of a sensitive film legally impermissible.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) utilized its regulatory powers to direct Zee5 to take down the uncertified film.
The Centre has reportedly advised respective state governments that they hold the authority to initiate criminal proceedings if a disputed film is screened publicly without regulatory approval. Furthermore, the government is reviewing whether to take separate punitive action against Zee5 for hosting the title.
Proposed Amendments to IT Rules
To formalize this oversight, the government is exploring structural amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules.
If implemented, the amendment would permanently erase the distinction between theatrical and digital film releases, forcing independent and studio filmmakers alike to clear their projects through the CBFC censor board before any public streaming premiere.
Context: The ‘Satluj’ Disconnect
For context, Satluj is a biographical drama based on the life of prominent Punjabi human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The project’s history explains the current friction:
The film was originally titled Punjab ’95 and was submitted to the CBFC for theatrical certification several years ago. Due to its sensitive subject matter, it was caught in an extended deadlock and never cleared for cinema halls.
On July 3, the film suddenly surfaced on Zee5 rebranded as Satluj, allegedly featuring the original uncensored cut without any CBFC certificate.
Following immediate government intervention, the streaming platform pulled the movie down just two days later on July 5, sparking the current debate over digital media streaming compliance.
