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Removal of film 'Satluj' from OTT platforms

5 entries over 7 days, from 6 July 2026 to 12 July 2026.

01
6 July

Removal of film 'Satluj' from ZEE5

  • The film 'Satluj' (formerly 'Punjab 95'), directed by Honey Trehan and starring Diljit Dosanjh, was removed from the ZEE5 streaming platform two days after its release.
  • The film depicts the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated and exposed extra-judicial killings in Punjab during the militancy era.
  • The film experienced a prolonged certification process with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) prior to its release.
  • The streaming platform did not provide a specific reason for the removal of the content.
2 questions on this day
02
7 July

SGPC condemns removal of film 'Satluj' from OTT

  • The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has formally opposed the removal of the film 'Satluj' from the ZEE5 OTT platform.
  • The Union government directed the removal of the film citing security concerns.
  • The action was taken under the provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
  • The film depicts the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra during the 1990s in Punjab.
2 questions on this day
03
8 July

Censorship of film 'Satluj'

  • The Union government has referred the film 'Satluj' to an Inter-Departmental Committee for examination.
  • The committee is constituted under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
  • The streaming platform ZEE5 was directed to remove the film on July 5, 2024, citing security concerns.
  • The film, which depicts the life of activist Jaswant Singh Khalra during the 1990s in Punjab, was released on July 3, 2024.
  • The film had previously faced a three-year delay in receiving certification from the Central Board of Film Certification.
2 questions on this day
04
11 July

Controversy over film 'Satluj' and Punjab militancy

  • The film 'Satluj' was removed from an OTT platform within two days of release due to security concerns.
  • The film depicts the period of peak militancy in Punjab and the police methods used to address it.
  • Concerns exist that revisiting this historical period through media may inflame radical sentiments.
  • The debate highlights the tension between the right to freedom of expression and the necessity of maintaining public order.
  • Experts suggest that outright bans on digital content may be counterproductive, as they often increase public interest and lead to alternative methods of consumption.
2 questions on this day
05
12 July

Government removal of film 'Satluj'

  • The film 'Satluj' (originally 'Punjab '95') was removed from the ZEE5 OTT platform in India shortly after its July 3, 2024 premiere.
  • The film depicts the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s.
  • The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had previously recommended 127 cuts to the film before its OTT release.
  • OTT platforms in India are regulated under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, rather than the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
  • Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, empowers the Centre to block online content on grounds including sovereignty, integrity, security of the State, and public order.
  • Procedural safeguards for blocking under Section 69A, as affirmed in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015), include a reasoned written order and an opportunity for the publisher to be heard.
  • Rule 16 of the Blocking Rules allows for confidentiality, which critics argue prevents effective legal challenge and judicial review of proportionality.
  • Legal remedies for filmmakers include filing a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution to challenge the blocking order as ultra vires or violative of Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(g).
4 questions on this day

Questions from this story

Newest first. A story that ran for 7 days is exactly the kind the mains paper asks about as one question.

  1. Examine the legal framework governing the regulation of content on OTT platforms in India. How does it differ from the regulatory mechanism under the Cinematograph Act, 1952? 150 words · 12 July
  2. Discuss the constitutional validity and procedural safeguards associated with Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. How does the issue of confidentiality in blocking orders impact the judicial review of executive actions regarding freedom of speech and expression? 250 words · 12 July
  3. Examine the constitutional limitations on the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(2) in the context of digital content regulation and public order. 150 words · 11 July
  4. The depiction of historical conflicts in media often presents a challenge to social cohesion. Discuss the role of the state in balancing creative freedom with the responsibility to prevent the resurgence of radical ideologies in sensitive regions. 250 words · 11 July
  5. Discuss the role of the Inter-Departmental Committee under the IT Rules, 2021, in regulating digital content. How does this mechanism balance the freedom of speech with national security concerns? 150 words · 8 July
  6. Discuss the regulatory framework governing OTT platforms in India under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. How does the government balance the mandate of national security with the freedom of artistic expression? 150 words · 7 July
  7. Discuss the role of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in balancing the freedom of speech and expression with the need for reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) of the Constitution of India. 150 words · 6 July

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