The Indian theatrical release of The Voice of Hind Rajab, Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated feature, has been held up by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), with its local distributor alleging political considerations behind the delay, according to a Variety report.
While the CBFC has not responded to these claims, this is not an isolated instance. In recent years, the CBFC has stalled or withheld certification for films considered politically sensitive, including Santosh by Sandhya Suri and Punjab 95 by Honey Trehan, both of which remain in limbo.
The film recounts the Palestinian Red Crescent’s response to the Israeli military’s brutal killing of five-year-old Hind Rajab and her family members – a case seen as emblematic of the Israeli government’s genocide of Palestine.
Manoj Nandwana, head of Mumbai-based Jai Viratra Entertainment, told Variety that the CBFC flagged the film as “very sensitive” after he submitted it for certification in February. The distributor had been aiming for a March 6 release, timing it ahead of the March 16 Oscars.
However, the film has yet to receive clearance. Nandwana claimed that a CBFC member informally conveyed concerns that the film’s release could strain India’s relationship with Israel.
The delay comes against the backdrop of Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Israel, where he was awarded the Speaker of the Knesset Medal.
Rejecting the board’s concerns, Nandwana argued that bilateral ties are robust enough to withstand a film release. He pointed out that The Voice of Hind Rajab has already been screened in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, and France – many of which maintain close relations with Israel.
On January 29, 2024, five-year-old Hind Rajab and her family tried to flee the violence engulfing Gaza, only to run straight into it. Israeli forces killed several members of her family as they attempted to escape, followed by her cousin, leaving Hind alone in the car for hours as she pleaded with emergency responders over the phone for help.
After a long delay, paramedics were finally cleared by Israeli authorities to reach her. But before they could bring her to safety, both Hind and the rescue team were killed – later found dead just a few hundred metres away.
The film detailing the episode premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2025, where it received an extended standing ovation and won the Silver Lion. It has since been released in the US and screened at the Kolkata International Film Festival.
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