After years of Censor Board struggle, Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj only saw about two days of OTT streaming, before it was pulled off abruptly on Jattvibeday from India. As the Honey Trehan directorial on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra’s life is removed from Zee5, we take a look at other films that faced struggle with release.
Lawrence of Punjab: A documentary series focused on the life and criminal syndicate of the jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, titled Lawrence of Punjab, was due to release on ZEE5 in April 2026. It invited criticism on account of ‘glamourising the gangster culture’. It didn’t stream on OTT.
Chardikala: Ammy Virk, Roopi Gill, and Himmat Sandhu-starrer Punjabi film Chardikala was not formally banned by the Indian government; instead, its theatrical release was blocked locally in Punjab due to pending Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) clearances, distribution pressures, and threats of religious backlash. The film addresses sensitive historical themes, specifically concerning Sikh figures during the 1984 events. The film successfully released in overseas markets like Canada and Australia on May 29, 2026.
Jana Nayagan: A political action thriller, Jana Nayagan, touted as the last work by actor Vijay before his transition to politics, ran into trouble with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and was referred to Revising Committee. Interestingly, there is now talk of the film releasing in July end as Vijay reigns as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. It was set for a January 2026 release.
India: The Modi Question: The two-part BBC documentary India: The Modi Question was banned in 2023. The documentary that charts the rise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to power, wasn’t aired by BBC in India. The documentary was uploaded on Youtube, and removed on government’s orders.
Tees: A multi-generational saga about a Kashmiri family navigating identity, displacement, authoritarianism, and censorship across 90 years, Tees was commissioned by Netflix in 2019. The Dibakar Banerjee directorial, which charts three generations of a family with a Kashmir connection, was completed in 2022 but has not been released on OTT.
Waiting for CBFC clearance
The India Story: Slow Poison in Progress, starring Kajal Aggarwal and Shreyas Talpade, is currently awaiting clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) ahead of its scheduled worldwide theatrical release on July 24. The India Story explores the widespread use of pesticides in farming and the devastating impact they can have on human health. Director Chettan DK said, “It has been a difficult time for films that dare to speak about uncomfortable realities. Seeing Satluj disappear from an OTT platform and now The India Story still waiting for its CBFC clearance is heartbreaking as a filmmaker. Our intention has never been to create a controversy—we simply want to bring an important issue to the people through cinema. After years of research and hard work, all we ask is for the film to be given an opportunity to reach audiences. We remain hopeful that The India Story receives its clearance soon so people can watch it and form their own opinions.”