CBFC bans Oscar-nominated documentary The Voice of Hind Rajab citing India-Israel relations concerns

The Voice of Hind Rajab banned in India

• CBFC bans The Voice of Hind Rajab citing India-Israel ties
• Film's release postponed; director and opposition criticize ban
• Movie premiered at Venice, won Grand Jury Prize and ovation

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The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has reportedly banned the Oscar-nominated movie The Voice of Hind Rajab, which was supposed to be released this week.

According to Variety, CBFC has reportedly banned the film due to tension that it may harm India's friendly relations with Israel in light of the unrest in the Middle East.

The heartbreaking tale of Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old Palestinian child who was discovered dead in a car that was blasted by 335 bullets during Israel's offensive in Gaza in 2024, is told in this documentary-dramatic film, which was directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania.

The documentary details the Palestinian Red Crescent Society's efforts to save Rajab and her 15-year-old cousin, who was trapped in the crossfire.

The movie's mid-March release date, which was meant to coincide with the 2026 Oscars, has now been postponed.

Manoj Nandwana, the movie's distributor, told Variety that on February 27, the day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned from his two-day visit to Israel, he played the movie for the CBFC members.

He was later told, nevertheless, that the movie would "break up the India-Israel relationship" if it were permitted to open in theatres.

It is no secret that over the past ten years, India and Israel have developed close connections in a number of areas, including technology and defence.

Despite the unrest in the Middle East, India has been able to maintain its engagement with all sides because of this equilibrium.

Both the opposition and the award-winning director have criticised the decision to postpone the movie's release.

"I grew up loving India," Ben Hania posted on Facebook. Bollywood was a part of my early years. I even pretended to have Indian ancestry at one time in order to feel unique. Is the relationship between the "largest democracy in the world" and the "only democracy in the Middle East" so delicate that a movie may end it?

Notably, The Voice of Hind Rajab has been published in nations with strong ties to Israel, including the US, the UK, Italy, and France. It's interesting to note that after a Tel Aviv judge lifted the prohibition, Israel itself may halt the movie.

The documentary was first premiered at the Venice International Film Festival.

Also Read: Oscars 2026: Celebrities wear ‘Artists4Ceasefire’ and ‘ICE OUT’ pins on the red carpet

The movie received a 20-minute standing ovation there in addition to winning the Grand Jury Prize and six other honours.

The audio of Rajab's phone conversation with a Palestinian Red Crescent volunteer while she waited for assistance is used in the movie. The audio recordings of their discussion were made public by the Red Crescent in late 2024.

Later, as Israeli forces advanced, Hamadeh was also slain. The only person still alive in the car was Rajab, who was only five years old.