Satluj OTT release violated IT Rules, 2021: I&B Ministry
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has said that the release of Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj violates IT Rules, 2021, due to lack of required certification before OTT release.
Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj, based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has been taken down from streaming platform ZEE5 just two days after its release. The move has drawn reactions from celebrities and politicians, while the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the film violated the IT Rules, 2021, as it was released on the OTT platform before the required certification process was completed.
Zee5 has said the film will remain unavailable in India until further notice. The Ministry said the film did not have the required certification for a theatrical release and alleged that the makers released it online instead of completing the process.
According to I&B Ministry officials, the film did not have the necessary clearance for theatrical release. An official told ANI, "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."
The official further alleged that the release violated the provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, though no specific provision was identified.
The official also said the certification body had recommended nearly 100 cuts to the film. Rather than making those changes, the makers allegedly changed the film's title and went ahead with the OTT release. The Ministry also said it had not received any representation from the filmmakers seeking approval or reconsideration before the film was released.
Confirming the removal, Zee5 said in an official statement on Sunday, "In light of the current developments, Satluj will be unavailable in India until further notice. We remain committed to exploring every appropriate avenue through due process to bring the film back to our audiences at the earliest opportunity."
Hours after the film was taken down, Dosanjh addressed the issue during a live Instagram interaction on Monday and said the development was not unexpected. "My love and respect to all of you. What I had already expected is exactly what happened. I thought the film might get banned when offices will open on Monday, but I didn't know it would happen as early as Sunday evening," the actor said.
Despite the removal, Dosanjh said he was satisfied that the film had already reached viewers. "But now I have the satisfaction that at least our work has reached people the way we wanted it to. People have already downloaded it. One thing that made me especially happy was seeing that they're even screening the movie with a projector at Gurudwara Sahib. It brought me immense joy to see that," he said.
Directed by Honey Trehan and produced by RSVP and MacGuffin Pictures, Satluj also stars Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan.
Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj, based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has been taken down from streaming platform ZEE5 just two days after its release. The move has drawn reactions from celebrities and politicians, while the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the film violated the IT Rules, 2021, as it was released on the OTT platform before the required certification process was completed.
Zee5 has said the film will remain unavailable in India until further notice. The Ministry said the film did not have the required certification for a theatrical release and alleged that the makers released it online instead of completing the process.
According to I&B Ministry officials, the film did not have the necessary clearance for theatrical release. An official told ANI, "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."
The official further alleged that the release violated the provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, though no specific provision was identified.
The official also said the certification body had recommended nearly 100 cuts to the film. Rather than making those changes, the makers allegedly changed the film's title and went ahead with the OTT release. The Ministry also said it had not received any representation from the filmmakers seeking approval or reconsideration before the film was released.
Confirming the removal, Zee5 said in an official statement on Sunday, "In light of the current developments, Satluj will be unavailable in India until further notice. We remain committed to exploring every appropriate avenue through due process to bring the film back to our audiences at the earliest opportunity."
Hours after the film was taken down, Dosanjh addressed the issue during a live Instagram interaction on Monday and said the development was not unexpected. "My love and respect to all of you. What I had already expected is exactly what happened. I thought the film might get banned when offices will open on Monday, but I didn't know it would happen as early as Sunday evening," the actor said.
Despite the removal, Dosanjh said he was satisfied that the film had already reached viewers. "But now I have the satisfaction that at least our work has reached people the way we wanted it to. People have already downloaded it. One thing that made me especially happy was seeing that they're even screening the movie with a projector at Gurudwara Sahib. It brought me immense joy to see that," he said.
Directed by Honey Trehan and produced by RSVP and MacGuffin Pictures, Satluj also stars Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan.
