Oscar-nominated Gaza film The Voice of Hind Rajab faces India release delay over sensitivity concerns

A still from ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’; (left) Hind Rajab. Pics/YouTube, X

It is strange, almost jarring, that a film about the devastation of Gaza has found ways to be screened in Israel itself, and yet, in India, it has not secured clearance. Directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, The Voice of Hind Rajab reconstructs the true story of Hind Rajab, a young girl fleeing Gaza City with her family in January 2024. Their car, however, came under fire from Israeli forces. The film unfolds from the perspective of Palestinian Red Crescent volunteers, who remain on call with Rajab as she tells them, in fear, that her cousins are already dead, and pleads with them not to leave her alone.

The docudrama is anchored by Rajab's real voice recordings from her final moments. She was never rescued. Twelve days later, her body was discovered alongside her relatives and the two volunteers who had tried to reach her.

India distributor Manoj Nandwana

For India distributor Manoj Nandwana, the effort to bring the Oscar-nominated film to Indian audiences has been cumbersome. "The Voice of Hind Rajab is not banned in Israel. Their courts tossed out the efforts to ban films. We went to the Board [Central Board of Film Certification, CBFC] on February 27, where it was viewed by five people. They said it needs to go to the revising committee," he explains, adding, "They feel the film could sever Indo-Israel relations and is [too] sensitive." The film was scheduled to release on March 6, but that date has now been pushed. "But they're not saying no."

Brad Pitt (L), Joaquin Phoenix (R), Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuarón, Jonathan Glazer, and Spike Lee have joined the film as executive producers

According to Nandwana, the Board did not return with a list of cuts or a formal objection, but instead left the film in limbo. "They feel the film is against Israel, but it's not. It's anti-war. It's about saving a child. There's no issue like violence, nudity, and direct political instruction either," he says. The delay has resulted in a "complete loss for me". "I felt it had the legs to fare well. Usually, docudramas don't do as well, but a lot was going for the film - its theme, the accolades. In India, we didn't get permission for any festival either. The film has now gone to revising committee but no screening date has been given so far."

Did you know?
‘The Voice of Hind Rajab' holds the record for the longest standing ovation in the history of the Venice Film Festival (23 minutes and 50 seconds).