Diljit Dosanjh's Satluj, after waiting for years, arrived quietly on OTT, but stirred an uproar after being removed.

The Centre has directed ZEE5 to take down  Satluj, citing "security concerns" and the platform's obligations under IT Rules 2021, and now the whole controversy is getting a lot bigger.

The film, based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, released on Friday and was quietly pulled from the platform just two days later on Sunday. 

A government official told PTI the reason for this decision which many were expecting. 

"They kept sitting on the suggested cuts and eventually released the movie quietly on OTT with a new title. OTT does not come under the CBFC's jurisdiction. When the matter came to the government's notice, Zee was asked to take the film down," the official said, adding, "If they want to release the film in theatres and OTT, they should follow the laid down norms."

It is worth mentioning that the film was originally submitted to the CBFC back in 2022 under its original title Panjab 95.

The board suggested 127 cuts, which the makers refused to do so. After three years of going back and forth, they quietly released it on ZEE5 under a new title and without any cuts. 

Streaming platforms in India aren't under CBFC's jurisdiction; they actually fall under IT Rules 2021 instead.

The singer-actor, speaking from the US where he's currently on tour, said he saw this coming. In a long Instagram Live session, he seemed relieved that people managed to watch it before the takedown. 

ZEE5, meanwhile, is pushing back, but carefully. "We are doing our bit to bring 'Satluj' back. Please do yours - don't support piracy. We remain committed to exploring every possible avenue to bring 'Satluj' back to you," the platform said.