Khaberni - A local distributor in India reported that the cinematic screening in India of the film “The Voice of Hind Rajab”, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania and an Oscar nominee, scheduled for release this month, faces obstruction by the country's Central Board of Film Certification for political reasons.
The film recounts the true story of a five-year-old Palestinian girl who was trapped inside a car that was attacked by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza, before she was later found to have been martyred along with her family.
The distributor Manoj Nandwana, head of Mumbai-based “Jai Viratra Entertainment”, said that the censorship board is censoring the film on the grounds that it is “very sensitive”, as reported by "Variety" magazine.
Nandwana explained that he presented the film to the board in February as part of the censorship approval process, and planned to release it on March 6th, ahead of the Oscars ceremony on the 16th of the same month, but the film did not receive the exhibition permit.
He added that one of the board members told him that screening the film “might affect the relations between India and Israel”.
In a related context, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited "Israel" at the end of last month, where he was warmly welcomed in the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister since the establishment of full diplomatic relations with the occupation 25 years ago, a move aimed at enhancing economic and technological cooperation, and reflecting a shift in India's foreign policy which traditionally supported the Palestinian cause.
In response to the reasons for the ban, Nandwana said that the relations between India and "Israel"; “are very strong and cannot be shaken by a film”, noting that the film was already shown in the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, and other countries that have relations with the occupation.
He added that the censorship board is still adamant about banning the film, while it did not respond to a media request for comment.
The film premiered globally at the Venice Film Festival in September, where it received enthusiastic applause that lasted for more than 20 minutes, before it won the “Silver Lion” award. It was later released in the United States through a distribution company affiliated with the production partner, after other American distribution companies hesitated to screen it.
