10 Films On Palestine To Stream In India Amidst The Censorship Of The Voice Of Hind Rajab

Summary

India’s CBFC halted the release of The Voice of Hind Rajab over concerns it could impact diplomatic ties with Israel.
Director Kaouther Ben Hania criticized the decision, questioning whether a film could threaten relations between democracies.
The piece presents a watchlist of films on Palestinian lives that remain accessible despite censorship barriers.

Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania has questioned the decision of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India, to halt the theatrical release of her Oscar-nominated docudrama The Voice of Hind Rajab (2025). The film was scheduled for release in India on March 6, with a wider rollout planned around the 2026 Oscars period. However, the release has been put on hold.

According to distributor Manoj Nandwana of Mumbai-based Jai Viratra Entertainment, the CBFC declined certification over concerns that the film “might affect India’s diplomatic ties with Israel.” Nandwana stated that he screened the film for CBFC members on February 27, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned from a two-day visit to Israel. India has avoided direct criticism of Israel in United Nations resolutions and has also refrained from taking sides during its conflict with Iran.

In response to the decision, Ben Hania shared a statement on Instagram and Facebook reflecting on her personal connection to India. She recalled her early admiration for Bollywood and described how it shaped her imagination. She also questioned whether the relationship between the “world’s largest democracy” and the “only democracy in the Middle East” could be so fragile that a single film might disrupt it.

Within this context, the absence of The Voice of Hind Rajab from Indian screens underscores the selective routes through which politically engaged cinema reaches audiences. In a landscape where state-aligned narratives often receive preferential visibility—particularly in light of India’s ties with Israel—other films continue to emerge despite censorship roadblocks. This watchlist features ten such films centred on Palestinian lives, bringing into focus stories that endure despite persistent institutional barriers, along with details on where they can be viewed in India.

Set during the 1948 Al-Nakba, Farha (2021) follows a young Palestinian girl who harbours big dreams to pursue her education. Through they are shattered when she is locked in a storage room by her father for safety as violence unfolds outside. Through her confinement, it captures the terror of displacement and the collapse of rural Palestinian life. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was Jordan’s official submission to the Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.

Where To Watch : Dailymotion

A semi-autobiographical account spanning from 1948 to the present, the film traces the life of a Palestinian family that remains in Israel. It depicts the filmmaker's father, Fouad Suleiman, as a resistance fighter in 1948, the struggles of his family under Israeli military rule in the 1960s and finally, director Elia's own experiences growing up. Told through absurdist comedy, it reflects on occupation, identity and everyday resistance. Suleiman’s restrained style underscores the absurdity of prolonged political stasis. The film was an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival (2009). It also won the Jury Prize at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (2009).