India Blocks Release Of Oscar-Nominated 'The Voice Of Hind Rajab' Citing Israel-India Relations

The Oscar-nominated film The Voice of Hind Rajab has been blocked by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) from releasing in India. The film tells the story of a Palestinian girl killed by the Israeli forces by targeting her car with 356 bullets. Distributor Manoj Nandwana says officials claimed the film could harm India-Israel relations.

The film was screened for the CBFC in February, when the distributor submitted the film for censorship approval, and was planning to release a March 6 India release, before the March 16 Oscars.

The Voice of Hind Rajab is written and directed by Kaouther Ben Hania and stars Saja Kilani, Motaz Malhees, Amer Hlehel, and Clara Khoury. It follows the Red Crescent response during the killing of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl, by the IDF during the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip.

The film had its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize and six other parallel prizes.

At the 98th Academy Awards, it was nominated for Best International Feature Film as the Tunisian entry. At the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, it was nominated for Best Non-English Language Film.