India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has prohibited the domestic release of the Oscar-nominated documentary ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab,’ citing potential damage to Indo-Israeli relations. The decision has sparked significant controversy and debate about artistic freedom and diplomatic sensitivities.
Directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, the powerful docudrama recounts the tragic story of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who was killed by Israeli military forces in Gaza. The film depicts how soldiers fired 335 bullets into the vehicle where the child was awaiting rescue, generating international attention following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a 23-minute standing ovation.
Indian distributor Manoj Nandwana submitted the film for certification in February ahead of a planned March release. According to reports from Variety and Middle East Eye, CBFC officials explicitly stated that releasing the film ‘would break up the India-Israel relationship.’ The timing of the submission—just one day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Israel—reportedly influenced the decision.
Nandwana expressed limited surprise, noting that several Indian film festivals had already banned screenings of the documentary in locations including Goa, Bangalore, Pune, and Kerala. The distributor’s team has formally applied for a revision of the decision, though they acknowledge the need for a ‘miracle’ to reverse the ruling.
Palestinian-American production company Watermelon Pictures, which supported the film’s creation, strongly criticized the censorship. Co-founder Badie Ali questioned the rationale, asking, ‘Since when is a five-year-old girl’s cry for help a diplomatic threat?’ He emphasized that Indian audiences ‘don’t need to be protected from a true story’ and suggested that suppressing the film demonstrates that ‘Hind’s story still frightens those in power.’
Director Ben Hania responded via Instagram, questioning whether the relationship between the ‘world’s largest democracy’ and the ‘only democracy in the Middle East’ is so fragile that a single film could jeopardize it.
The decision occurs against the backdrop of strengthening Indo-Israeli relations. India stands as the world’s largest purchaser of Israeli weapons, many deployed in Indian-administered Kashmir. Both nations have continued to establish new defense and trade agreements throughout Israel’s military operations in Gaza, with India supplying both arms and labor.
The CBFC has not publicly commented on the decision or responded to media inquiries regarding the ban.