Based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, Satluj had remained at the centre of a prolonged certification dispute before it premiered on ZEE5 on Friday under a changed title. The streaming platform later withdrew the film from India, stating that it would remain unavailable until further notice.
According to officials from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the film did not possess the mandatory certification required for a theatrical release before being made available online.
"Satluj did not have the required certification for a theatrical release. Instead of complying with the certification process, the makers changed the film's title and released it on an OTT platform on Friday," an official told news agency ANI.
The official further alleged that the release violated provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, although no specific provision was identified.
The ministry also stated that the Central Board of Film Certification had recommended nearly 100 cuts to the film. According to officials, instead of implementing the suggested changes, the filmmakers changed the title and proceeded with the OTT release.
Officials further stated that the ministry had not received any representation from the filmmakers seeking approval or reconsideration before the film's release.
Confirming the removal of the film, ZEE5 said on Sunday that Satluj would remain unavailable in India until further notice due to the ongoing developments. The platform said it remained committed to exploring all appropriate legal avenues through due process to bring the film back to audiences at the earliest opportunity.
The removal triggered political reactions, with senior Congress leader Pargat Singh criticising the decision. He alleged that propaganda films supported by the BJP, including The Kerala Story and other productions, were promoted during elections, while films highlighting human rights issues should not be restricted from public platforms.
Pargat Singh said that power should be used responsibly and not misused. He added that criminals should be treated as criminals, but human rights remained the right of every individual. He stated that such a film should not be banned and should instead be viewed as a means to understand how power could be misused.
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Reacting to the removal during an Instagram Live session, actor Diljit Dosanjh said he had expected such a development. He said he had anticipated that the film could face restrictions once government offices reopened on Monday but was surprised that the action occurred as early as Sunday evening.
Despite the removal, Dosanjh said he was satisfied that the film had already reached a wide audience. He said people had already downloaded the film and expressed happiness after seeing screenings being organised through projectors at Gurudwara Sahib.
Directed by Honey Trehan and produced by RSVP and MacGuffin Pictures, Satluj features Diljit Dosanjh portraying Jaswant Singh Khalra, alongside Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan.
The certification dispute, OTT removal and political reactions have placed Satluj at the centre of a wider debate over film certification, digital releases and the portrayal of sensitive human rights issues in cinema.
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