Ananya Lohia , New Delhi - Oscar-nominated film The Voice of Hind Rajab, based on the killing of a five-year-old Palestinian girl during the Israel-Gaza war, has finally received clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The film, which was earlier delayed, is now set for a theatrical release in India on June 19.

Directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, the film was nominated in the Best International Film category at the 98th Academy Awards. Distributor Manoj Nandwana of Jai Viratra Entertainment Limited confirmed that the CBFC granted the film certification without any cuts. In a statement, Nandwana thanked the CBFC for enabling Indian audiences to watch the film, calling cinema a powerful medium for storytelling and dialogue. He described The Voice of Hind Rajab as a deeply emotional story that highlights the human cost of conflict and the resilience of the human spirit. The film recounts the tragic story of Hind Rajab, who was fleeing Gaza City with her family in January 2024 when their vehicle reportedly came under Israeli fire. Her relatives were killed, and Rajab’s desperate phone call to Palestinian Red Crescent emergency workers later drew international attention. The bodies of Rajab, her family members and two rescue workers were later found near the vehicle.

Ben Hania used real voice recordings of Rajab in the film while casting actors to portray actual Palestinian Red Crescent members. Speaking to PTI earlier this year, the filmmaker said hearing Rajab’s voice online deeply affected her and prompted her to pause another project to make the film. “When I heard the voice of Hind Rajab, it was so powerful and it set me in this state of anger and sadness,” Hania had said, adding that she felt remaining silent would amount to being complicit.

After months of delay, The Voice of Hind Rajab is now ready for release across India and several South Asian countries. The film is expected to spark conversations around war, humanity and the impact of conflict on civilians.