Indian government plans to send film ‘Satluj’ to Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) for review after it was yanked from ZEE5 . Security concerns prompted removal.
Originally called ‘Punjab 95’,film dives into activist Jaswant Singh Khalra's story during Punjab's turbulent 1990s,marked by terrorism and state violence . After three years of censorship,it hit ZEE5 on July 3, only to be pulled on July 5 .
The IDC, under 2021 IT Rules, will assess film's content and advise Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Includes officials from Information and Broadcasting,Home Affairs, and Electronics and IT.
IDC's recommendations could span warnings,apologies, or even reclassification or blocking under IT Act's Section 69A,giving government power to restrict content threatening India's sovereignty, security,or public order.
Film faced Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) scrutiny before. They suggested cuts for its 2022 theatrical release,but filmmakers released it uncut on OTT,leading to quick removal.
Officials said ZEE5 was told to take down film after learning it was released without needed cuts. "They ignored suggested cuts and quietly released it on OTT under a new title. OTT isn't under CBFC's jurisdiction. Once government found out,ZEE5 was asked to remove it," an official said.
Film's portrayal of Khalra,who investigated cremation of unidentified bodies in Punjab from 1984-1994, has stirred public interest. Khalra was abducted in 1995 and vanished. In 2005,four Punjab Police officers were convicted for his abduction and murder, initially sentenced to seven years, later bumped to life in prison by Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Controversy over ‘Satluj’ has sparked criticism, including from political figures like Sukhbir Badal,who slammed its removal as an attack on collective memory. Film questions official narratives of state actions during a grim chapter of Indian history.
Under IT Rules, OTT content isn't bound by CBFC's certification process but follows a Code of Ethics requiring caution in content impacting national security or public order. But Bombay High Court paused this code's implementation in 2021,with Madras High Court later extending stay nationwide .
Despite legal tangles in digital content regulation, government can act fast in emergencies. Rule 16 of IT Rules lets an officer assess content and suggest blocking if it poses immediate national threats.
IDC's review of ‘Satluj’ will likely focus on film's impact on public discourse and its portrayal of sensitive historical events. As committee meets, film's future hangs in balance, with outcomes ranging from reinstatement to more restrictions…
