The Indian release of Kaouther Ben Hania's Oscar-nominated film 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' has hit a roadblock with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) yet to clear it for theatrical screening. The film was initially scheduled to release in India on March 6.

Certification delay and concerns raised

According to distributor Manoj Nandwana of Jai Viratra Entertainment, the film was submitted to the CBFC in February. However, clearance has not been granted so far.

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'The Voice of Hind Rajab', which tells the story of a real 5-year-old Palestinian girl who was trapped inside a car attacked by Israeli forces in Gaza and later found dead, is being censored by the CBFC because "the film is very sensitive", Nandwana said, as reported by Variety.

He further claimed that a CBFC member expressed concerns about the film's potential diplomatic impact. "If it gets released it would break up the India-Israel relationship," Nadawana said.

Distributor pushes back

Nandwana questioned the reasoning behind the decision, pointing to the strength of ties between the two nations.

"I told them: the India-Israel relationship is so strong that it's idiotic to think this movie will break it," Nadawana added. He also noted that the film has already been released internationally.

"The Voice of Hind Rajab has been released in the US, UK, Italy, France and many other countries that have a relationship with Israel," he said.

"But they want to censor it anyway," the distributor added.

The CBFC has not responded to requests for comment on the matter.

Global recognition and past precedents

The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where it received over 20 minutes of applause and went on to win the Silver Lion. It has since been released in multiple countries, including the United States.

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This is not an isolated case. In recent times, the CBFC has also halted releases of films considered politically sensitive. Last year, Sandya Suri's 'Santosh' faced a similar delay despite earlier approvals during production.

The situation highlights ongoing challenges around film certification when content intersects with geopolitical sensitivities.