The Indian release of Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated film "The Voice of Hind Rajab", which had been scheduled for this month, is being blocked by the country’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) due to political reasons, as confirmed by the film's local distributor.
"The Voice of Hind Rajab" tells the story of a real Palestinian girl, just 5 years old, who was trapped in a car during an Israeli attack in Gaza and later found dead. The CBFC has reportedly censored the film, describing it as “very sensitive,” according to Manoj Nandwana, the head of Mumbai-based distributor Jai Viratra Entertainment. Nandwana spoke to Variety, stating that the board’s refusal to grant certification stems from its politically charged content.
Nandwana shared that he had submitted the film for censorship approval in February and had been planning for a March 6 release, hoping to align with the March 16 Oscars. However, the film has yet to be cleared for release, and Nandwana says he was informed by a CBFC member that if it gets released it would break up the India-Israel relationship.
Responding to the CBFC's stance, Nandwana remarked, “I told them: the India-Israel relationship is so strong that it’s idiotic to think this movie will break it.” He also pointed out that the film had already been screened and released in multiple countries with strong ties to Israel, including the U.S., U.K., Italy, and France.
The CBFC has not yet furnished a response to this.
Politician-author Shashi Tharoor, in a tweet, called the move "disgraceful," adding that "in a democracy, screening a film is a reflection of our society’s freedom of expression and has nothing to do with government to government relations. This practice of banning films or books because of the offence they might cause to foreign countries must stop immediately. It’s unworthy of a mature democracy."
"The Voice of Hind Rajab" made a strong impact at its world premiere in September, where it received over 20 minutes of applause at the Venice Film Festival, eventually winning the Silver Lion. The film is being distributed in the U.S. by Willa, the production company’s own distribution arm, after several other U.S. distributors passed on it.
This is not the first time India’s CBFC has blocked a politically sensitive film. Last year, the board halted the release of Sandya Suri’s Oscar-shortlisted "Santosh", a police procedural set in a fictional northern Indian state that explores caste and religious tensions. Despite having previously secured script approval and access to Indian government production incentives, the film was denied certification.
The same goes for filmmaker Honey Trehan's "Punjab 95", which was earlier set to premiere in 2023 during the famed Toronto International Film Festival. The intervention of the Indian authorities prior to it led to the postponement, beginning the indefinite hiatus. With the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) making demands to cut 127 scenes, the filmmakers and CBFC have entered a stalemate, forcing the movie into an undecided void.