‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’, reportedly slated for release in March, will not screen in India. Authorities cite the need to safeguard India-Israel diplomatic relations.
The Voice of Hind Rajab
India’s release of the Tunisian Oscar-nominated film ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ has been blocked, according to a report by Variety.
The film, which tells the heart-wrenching story of a five-year-old girl killed during the Israel-Gaza war, was all set to release in India. But the country’s ratings board, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), stepped in, halting plans just weeks before the Academy Awards.
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Manoj Nandwana of Mumbai-based Jai Viratra Entertainment, the film’s Indian distributor, told Variety that he was warned the movie could “break up” India-Israel relations if released.
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Nandwana, who had submitted the film in February aiming for a mid-March premiere, pushed back hard: “The India-Israel relationship is so strong that it’s idiotic to think this movie will break it.”
Despite his protests, the CBFC didn’t budge. Nandwana pointed out that the film has already released in countries like the US and UK, which also maintain diplomatic ties with Israel.
Yet, the board remains firm on censoring it in India.
Written and directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ recreates tragic events of January 2024 when Hind Rajab and her family tried to escape bombings in Gaza City.
What makes this film especially haunting is that it uses real audio of Hind’s panicked phone calls to emergency operators. Actors play operators responding to her cries for help.
The film’s stark realism earned it nomination for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars. It competed against films like ‘It Was Just an Accident’, ‘The Secret Agent’, ‘Sentimental Value’.
While it didn’t win, critics hailed it as a gripping, gut-wrenching portrayal of civilian life under war.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has openly supported Israel. After the October 7 attacks, India was among the first to issue statements in favour of Israel. Modi’s two-day official visit to Israel in February 2026 included signing several key agreements.
The CBFC has a history of pulling politically sensitive films. Earlier, the critically acclaimed ‘Santosh’ also faced a ban due to concerns about its depiction of misogyny, Islamophobia, and violence in the Indian police.
Even when scheduled for a later streaming release, it remained banned.
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