Indian censor board blocks release of Palestinian film ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ over diplomatic concerns

The Indian Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has refused to clear Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated docufiction *The Voice of Hind Rajab* for theatrical release in India. The film, which reconstructs the final hours of a six-year-old Palestinian girl trapped in a car under Israeli fire during Gaza’s 2024 siege, was meant to release on 6 March before the Oscars. Distributor Manoj Nandwana revealed that the CBFC cited India’s close diplomatic ties with Israel as the reason for the rejection, arguing that allowing the film could harm bilateral relations. Ben Hania responded questioning whether the bond between ‘the world’s largest democracy’ and ‘the only democracy in the Middle East’ was so fragile.

The decision reflects growing restrictions on Palestinian cinema in India since Israel’s assault on Gaza began in 2023. Several Palestinian-themed films have been blocked from screening, including a set intended for the International Film Festival of Kerala. *The Voice of Hind Rajab* combines documentary footage with dramatized portrayals of Red Crescent dispatchers who tried unsuccessfully to rescue Hind. The girl’s real audio recordings are used, capturing her terrified pleas for help. Critics praise the film for its emotional realism and condemnation of the human cost of occupation. While emotionally distressing to watch, it serves as a memorial to Hind and exposes the systemic constraints under which humanitarian workers operate. The CBFC’s decision underlines how diplomatic alignments are influencing artistic freedom in India.