Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice Of Hind Rajab FINALLY Set For India Release After CBFC Clearance

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has granted clearance to Kauther Ben Hania’s acclaimed feature The Voice of Hind Rajab, paving the way for the film’s theatrical release across India on June 19. The decision comes moths after the Oscar-nominated film faced an uncertain future in the country. While Mumbai-based distributor Jai Viratra Entertainment had originally planned to release the film on March 6, it was unable to secure certification from the CBFC despite submitting it for approval in February.For the unversed, the political drama is based on the real-life story of Hund Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl who became a symbol of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza after she was trapped inside a vehicle that came under attack

and was later found dead. The bodies of Hind Rajab, her family members, and the two rescue workers sent to reach her discovered just metres apart. In recreating the tragedy for the screen, director Kaouther Ben Hania cast actors to portray the real-life Palestinian Red Crescent personnel involved in the rescue effort, while incorporating Rajab's actual voice recordings, lending the film a haunting authenticity and bringing the devastating true story to life. As per a report in Variety, Jai Virata Entertainment revealed the film has now been awarded an ‘A’ certificate and, significantly, has been cleared without any cuts.

The latest development marks the end of a long battle over the film’s release. Earlier this year, Jai Viratra chief Manoj Nandwana had publicly questioned the CBFC’s reluctance to approve the film. Speaking at the time, Nandwana claimed that concerns had been raised about the film’s potential impact on India-Israel relations.Rejecting that argument, Nandwana had maintained that the diplomatic relationship between the two countries was strong enough to withstand the release of a feature film. He also pointed out that the film had already been screened and distributed in several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Italy, all of which maintain ties with Israel.Following the certification, Jai Viratra Entertainment issued a statement thanking the CBFC for its decision.“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Central Board of Film Certification for granting certification without any cuts and enabling Indian audiences to engage with this important cinematic work,” the company said as per the report. The distributor added that it views cinema as a powerful platform for storytelling, dialogue and understanding diverse human experiences, and appreciated the board’s consideration in evaluating the film.

Jai Viratra also acknowledged the support it received from members of the media, filmmakers, artists and industry colleagues during the certification process, stating that their encouragement and advocacy played a key role in helping the film reach Indian audiences.Directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, The Voice of Hind Rajab has earned widespread international acclaim. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September, where it received an extended standing ovation and went on to win the prestigious Silver Lion award. The film later secured an Oscar nomination and has continued to generate discussion worldwide for its portrayal of the human cost of conflict. In the United States, it was eventually released by Willa after several distributors reportedly declined to take on the project.