New Delhi: We applied for the CBFC certificate for the film’s trailer in January. The board asked us to first submit the film for certification, after which they would review the trailer. We submitted the film in January, and it was screened a month later, on February 27.
The film does not contain any vulgarity or explicit violence that would require cuts. However, we were told that it is a highly sensitive film due to the India–Israel relationship, and that it could potentially affect diplomatic ties.
The film’s story
The story is set in Gaza on January 28, 2024. A family gets trapped in a car during an evacuation warning ahead of a bombing. The mother sends her daughter with her brothers while she stays back at home with her son.
She calls the Red Cross for help, but the family members in the car are killed, except for a six-year-old girl who survives. She remains inside the car with five dead bodies and stays connected on a call for six hours, waiting for help.
When help finally arrives, the army reaches the location with a tank and bombs the car. The film uses the original voice recording from the real-life call. The mother is also associated with the film.
The film does not mention any country or engage in political commentary. It focuses solely on the human cost of war and the suffering of ordinary people. No visuals of tanks are shown—only sound is used.
Importance of release in India
This subject is relevant everywhere because wars are happening across the world. Situations like this could affect anyone, anywhere, making the story universally important.
Concerns about release
I believe the executive committee may not clear the film. We have applied to the revising committee, but I do not have much hope. The film may not get released in India.
Many films fail to secure release due to censorship issues. This would not only mean losing a meaningful film but also result in financial loss. OTT platforms in India are also hesitant to acquire the film due to fears of government intervention.
Fiction or docufiction
The film is a docudrama. The girl’s original voice recording has been used, while lookalike actors have been cast for other roles.
Final thoughts. I told the CBFC that the film has already been released in the USA, UK, France, and Italy, and it has not affected their diplomatic relations with Israel. So why would it impact India’s relationship? Are we that afraid?