Indian Censors Block Oscar-Nominated Gaza Film Over Fears of Damaging Ties with Israel
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By thecommonsvoice
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has reportedly stalled the theatrical release of The Voice of Hind Rajab, an Oscar-nominated docudrama directed by Kaouther Ben Hania.
The film's Indian distributor, Manoj Nandwana, claims a CBFC member told him the movie could "break up" India-Israel relations if released.
The film depicts the tragic death of 5-year-old Hind Rajab in January 2024, using real audio from her panicked phone call to emergency operators while she was trapped under fire in Gaza City.
Despite the block in India, the film has been released in the US, UK, France, and Italy, and won the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival.
This move follows a pattern of the CBFC blocking politically sensitive content, similar to the recent stalling of the police procedural Santosh and the film Punjab 95.