The Centre is considering making certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) mandatory for films released directly on OTT platforms, government sources told India Today, amid the controversy surrounding Diljit Dosanjh’s film Satluj.
According to sources, the proposal is being examined after Satluj was allegedly streamed and publicly screened without obtaining CBFC certification.
Sources said that public screenings of Satluj without certification were not legally permissible and that it is the responsibility of the respective state governments to initiate criminal proceedings against those organising such unauthorised screenings.
They further claimed that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), or the Central government, has the authority to direct the removal of an uncertified film from an OTT platform, and that such action was taken in the case of Satluj.
Government sources also said that action is being considered against Zee5, alleging that the platform streamed an uncertified version of the film. However, no official decision has been announced so far.
The Centre is also examining whether CBFC certification should become mandatory for all films released on OTT platforms. If implemented, the proposal would require filmmakers to obtain a CBFC certificate before premiering their films on streaming services.
According to sources, the government is considering amending the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules to introduce this requirement.
The development comes a day after the Centre, according to sources, directed state governments to initiate legal action wherever Satluj is being publicly screened without the necessary certification.
Satluj, based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, was removed from Zee5 shortly after its release in India. Following the takedown, Diljit Dosanjh shared a video urging audiences to watch the film despite its removal from the streaming platform.
Since then, the film has been screened at community events organised in gurdwaras across several states, with organisers stating that the initiative is intended to keep Jaswant Singh Khalra’s story alive despite the film’s removal from OTT platforms.
