Centre sets up committee to review Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Satluj’ after Zee5 removes film

New Delhi: The Centre has constituted a high-level Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) to examine the content of Satluj, the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer inspired by the disappearance of Punjab-based human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra.

The development comes a day after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) directed OTT platform Zee5 to remove the film from its platform.

Review Under IT Rules

According to government sources, the action has been initiated under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, read with Part III of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. These provisions empower the government to issue directions to online intermediaries and OTT platforms regarding access to digital content.

A senior MIB official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the committee has been constituted under Rule 14 of the IT Rules, 2021. The IDC will examine the film and submit its recommendations to the Central Government for further action.

Why Satluj Is Under Scrutiny

Satluj, previously titled Punjab 95, is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who disappeared in 1995 after exposing alleged illegal cremations in Punjab.

The film was submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2022. Reports had indicated that the certification board suggested 127 cuts before granting clearance. However, the filmmakers did not implement the proposed changes.

The film was released on Zee5 on Friday in its unedited form. Within two days, the streaming platform removed it from its India catalogue following directions from the Centre.

The government-appointed committee will now assess the film's content and recommend the next course of action in accordance with the applicable legal framework.