Censor Board shifts stand? To grant 'A' certificate to Gaza war film?
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New Delhi: After facing widespread criticism for reportedly blocking a film based on the killing of Palestinian child Hind Rajab in Gaza, Indian authorities are now set to grant an ‘A’ certificate to The Voice of Hind Rajab, according to reports.
Directed by Belgian-Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, the film recounts the final hours of five-year-old Hind Rajab, whose desperate calls for help became a symbol of the suffering endured by civilians during Israel’s war on Gaza. The Central Board of Film Certification’s examining committee had earlier denied clearance, reportedly citing concerns that the film could affect India’s relations with Israel.
The decision triggered opposition from filmmakers, actors, activists and political leaders. Critics accused authorities of attempting to suppress a film documenting the human cost of war and the plight of Palestinian civilians. A group of 90 prominent figures from the film industry and civil society condemned the move, arguing that works exposing grave human rights abuses should not be censored.
Political pressure mounted after eight MPs from the INDIA alliance wrote to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, questioning the denial of certification to a film that had already received international recognition, including an Oscar nomination.
The film is based on events from January 2024, when Hind Rajab and her family were trying to flee Gaza. Their vehicle came under Israeli fire, killing family members. Rescue workers who later attempted to reach the child were also killed. The film reconstructs Hind’s final conversations with emergency responders and incorporates audio recordings capturing her fear as she waited for help.