Source The Hindu
MUMBAI — The theatrical release of the critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated film The Voice of Hind Rajab has been indefinitely stalled in India. According to the film’s domestic distributor, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has effectively “orally banned” the movie, citing concerns that its release could damage India’s diplomatic relationship with Israel.
Directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, the docudrama tells the harrowing true story of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in early 2024. The film, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, uses real audio recordings of the child’s desperate final phone calls for help.
“Oral Rejection” and Political Sensitivity
Manoj Nandwana, head of the Mumbai-based distribution house Jai Viratra Entertainment, revealed that he submitted the film for certification in February with hopes of a March 6 release. However, despite the film containing no nudity, excessive violence, or traditional “objectionable” content, clearance was withheld.
“A member of the CBFC committee told me that if it gets released, it would break up the India-Israel relationship,” Nandwana told reporters.
Nandwana noted that while the board typically provides a written list of suggested cuts or reasons for rejection, this time the feedback was delivered only verbally. He described the situation as an “oral ban,” noting that the board labeled the content as “very sensitive” given the current geopolitical climate.
A Growing Trend of Censorship
The block comes at a time of strengthened ties between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Israeli government. Critics and filmmakers have pointed out that The Voice of Hind Rajab has already been released in the U.S., the U.K., and various European nations that maintain close diplomatic relations with Israel without incident.
This is not an isolated case for the CBFC. Recent months have seen similar hurdles for other politically charged films, including:
Punjab 95: A biopic on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, which remains in limbo.
Santosh: The UK’s official Oscar entry, which also failed to secure an Indian certificate.
Director and Activists Respond
Director Kaouther Ben Hania took to social media to question the decision, asking if the relationship between the “world’s largest democracy” and the “only democracy in the Middle East” was truly so fragile that a single film could break it.
In India, political figures such as Shashi Tharoor have also expressed concern, suggesting that the move undermines freedom of expression. As of Friday, the CBFC and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting have not issued an official written statement regarding the film’s status.
The story of Hind Rajab
This video provides the essential real-world context of the tragic event that inspired the film, helping to explain why the subject matter is considered so sensitive by international censors.
