In a significant reversal, Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated feature “The Voice of Hind Rajab” has been cleared by India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) that had blocked the politically sensitive film’s release in March.
After weeks of controversy in India over its initial censorship of the film — which tells the real story of a 5-year-old Palestinian girl who was trapped inside a car attacked by Israeli forces in Gaza and later found dead — the CBFC has now granted “The Voice of Hind Rajab” a so-called ‘A’ certificate, meaning the film has been cleared for theatrical release without any cuts, according to Mumbai-based Jai Viratra Entertainment.
Winning this censorship battle means “The Voice of Hind Rajab” will now get a theatrical release via Jai Viratra across India on June 19.
In March, Jai Viratra chief Manoj Nandwana told Variety that he had submitted “The Voice of Hind Rajab” for censorship approval in February, intending to release the film in India on March 6. But at the time the film was not been cleared for release with Nadawana being told by a CBFC member that “if it gets released it would break up the India-Israel relationship,” Nadawana said.
The CBFC’s alleged initial reluctance to clear “The Voice of Hind Rajab” came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to Israel in late February, where he received a warm welcome, marking the first visit by an Indian premier in the 25 years since the two countries established full diplomatic relations. The visit, which aimed to strengthen economic and technological ties between the two countries, underscored a shift in Israel-India relations under Modi, whose embrace of Israel marks a departure from India’s foreign policy that has historically supported the Palestinians.
“I told them: the India-Israel relationship is so strong that it’s idiotic to think this movie will break it,” Nadawana told Variety in March, noting that “The Voice of Hind Rajab” has been released “in the U.S., U.K., Italy, France and many other countries that have a relationship with Israel.”
“We would like to begin by expressing our sincere gratitude to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), India, for granting certification without any cut to Voice of Hind Rajab and enabling Indian audiences to engage with this important cinematic work,” Jai Viratra Entertainment said in a statement on Tuesday.
“At Jai Viratra Entertainment Limited, we firmly believe that cinema serves as a powerful medium for storytelling, dialogue, and understanding diverse human experiences. We appreciate the thoughtful consideration extended by the CBFC in evaluating the film and facilitating its release in India,” it added.
“We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to members of the media fraternity, industry colleagues, filmmakers, artists, and well-wishers who supported our efforts throughout this process. Your encouragement, advocacy, and belief in the importance of meaningful cinema played a significant role in helping this film reach Indian audiences,” the statement continued.
In September, “The Voice of Hind Rajab” elicited more than 20 minutes of thunderous applause when it world premiered at the Venice Film Festival and then went on to win the fest’s Silver Lion. The film has been released in the U.S. by Willa, the production partner’s distribution arm, after other U.S. distributors passed.
