India has blocked the theatrical release of The Voice of Hind Rajab, a film depicting the killing of a young Palestinian girl in Gaza, according to its distributor.
The Oscar-nominated docudrama, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, tells the story of five-year-old Hind Rajab, who was killed while her family attempted to flee during the conflict between Israel and Hamas last year.
Manoj Nandwana of Jai Viratra Entertainment said the film was unlikely to receive certification from India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). He claimed a board member informally indicated that approving the film could negatively impact India’s diplomatic ties with Israel. Nandwana added that he has not received any official communication confirming the denial.
Questioning the decision, Nandwana noted that the film has been screened globally, including in Israel, and asked why it would be considered sensitive for Indian audiences. Despite the apparent restriction, the film was shown at an international festival in Kolkata in November last year.
India has steadily strengthened relations with Israel in sectors such as defence, agriculture, and technology, while also maintaining its longstanding support for Palestinian statehood. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel, underscoring growing bilateral ties.
The move to block the film has drawn criticism from opposition figures, including Shashi Tharoor, who described it as “disgraceful.” He argued that restricting films on the basis of potential diplomatic sensitivities undermines freedom of expression and is inconsistent with democratic values.
The Voice of Hind Rajab was nominated for Best International Feature at this year’s Academy Awards but lost to the Norwegian film Sentimental Value. The film had earlier received the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, where its premiere reportedly left audiences deeply moved.