India mulls CBFC certification for OTT film releases

The Indian government is considering a major regulatory shift that would require films released directly on streaming platforms to obtain certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), according to government sources. The proposal, which would amend existing digital media rules, follows the controversy surrounding the film "Satluj," which was streamed on ZEE5 without a CBFC certificate earlier this month.

The film "Satluj," starring Diljit Dosanjh and directed by Honey Trehan, premiered on the ZEE5 platform on July 3. It is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated thousands of unidentified cremations in Punjab between 1984 and 1994 before being abducted and killed in 1995. The film was removed from the platform just two days after its release following a government order citing national security concerns. Officials stated the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology invoked its authority to direct the removal of uncertified content.

The core issue is that films released directly on Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms currently operate outside the mandatory CBFC framework that governs theatrical releases. Reports...