Published Jan 31, 2026 | 9:06 AM ⚊ Updated Jan 31, 2026 | 9:06 AM
Last month, 19 films, including those centred around Palestine, were denied clearance at the International Film Festival of Kerala.
Synopsis: Several Palestinian films are yet to be cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification for screening at the ongoing Bengaluru International Film Festival. Actor Prakash Raj has publicly urged the state government to oppose the Centre’s delay, but the Karnataka government has yet to take a firm stand on the issue. The withholding of the films comes a month after 19 films were similarly denied clearance at the International Film Festival of Kerala.
Poverty, inequality, the struggles of farmers, labourers, and women must find space in cinema beyond mere entertainment, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said while inaugurating the 17th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) on Thursday, 29 January.
However, he stopped short of commenting on how the Central government is yet to grant clearance for the screening of several Palestinian films at the ongoing festival.
At least three Palestinian films – The Voice of Hind Rajab, Put Your Soul On Your Hand and Walk, and Yes! are awaiting approval from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), according to organisers of the BIFFes.
Only one Palestinian film – Palestine 36 – has been listed in the festival’s schedule. The Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, that documented Israel’s killing of a five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab during its ongoing war on Gaza, was recently nominated for an Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
Just over a month ago, at least 19 films, including those centred around Palestine, were denied clearance at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). At the time, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had strongly criticised the move.
Organised by the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy and the Department of Information, the Film Festival at Lulu Mall in Bengaluru will run until 6 February.
The theme for the festival this year is ‘Woman As She Is’ or ‘Stree Yendare Ashte Saake‘ in Kannada, a reference to a poem by Kannada poet and writer Dr GS Shivarudrappa. More than 60 films being screened are directed by women.
During the inauguration of the festival on Thursday, actor and brand ambassador of this year’s festival Prakash Raj openly urged the state government to take a stand against the Centre for stalling Palestinian films.
Explaining that the festival was launched 16 years ago with the spirit of a place like Ranganathittu, where birds from across the world arrive, Raj pointed out that politics had now entered the festival and altered its purpose.
“Our Union government is not allowing us to screen Palestinian films. This has to be protested against, and as Chief Minister and as a government, you must take a stand,” Raj said, referring to Siddaramaiah who was also present at the inauguration.
He then recited several lines from a poem by late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish: “The war will end, the leaders will shake hands and disperse, but that old lady will still be waiting for her son…..I don’t know who sold my homeland, but I know who paid the price for it.”
Siddaramaiah credited Raj for his commitment to social struggles and those who are oppressed. He then called for cinema to be a means of correcting the social problems along with being a medium of entertainment.
“There is inequality in society. There are women, backward, farmer and Dalit communities who are subject to inequality. When these communities (will be able to) work in a confident manner for their growth and change, the hope and purpose of the cinema medium will be fulfilled,” Siddaramaiah said, recalling that this social responsibility could be seen in famed actor Dr Rajkumar’s films.
He further said that the government “is always ready” to support filmmakers who create socially relevant cinema and reiterated its commitment to the overall development of the film industry by extending all necessary assistance.
However, he stopped short of referring to films about Palestine.
In contrast, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had described the ban as an example of “dissenting voices and diverse creative expressions” in the country.
“The censorship imposed at the film festival is a stark example of the authoritarian rule of the Sangh Parivar regime, which seeks to suppress dissenting voices and diverse creative expressions in the country. Enlightened Kerala will not bow to such acts of censorship. All films that were denied screening permission will be screened at the festival,” he had said in a post on Facebook.
The silence from the state government comes at a time when senior Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi have been vocal about Israel’s genocide in Gaza which has killed at least 70,000 people so far.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders claimed that such ‘propaganda’ movies must not be allowed for screening. BJP leader Y Bharath Shetty told reporters, “There are several checks and balances that the government has to do… I don’t think in Karnataka such propaganda movies should be released that can spoil the society.”
Calling the ‘ban’ on artistic expression a poor reflection of democratic values, filmmaker KM Chaitanya said such restrictions were unwarranted. “It is not as though people will watch these films, rise up against Israel, and demand that our government sever diplomatic ties. Nor will the screenings incite communal hatred,” he told South First.
He added that obtaining accurate information from the conflict situation in Gaza, that amounted to a genocide, has been difficult. “These films at the most will give us a perspective to understand the Israel-Palestine issue. Banning any work of art is not a good sign in a democracy,” he said.
The current controversy follows a pattern seen earlier in Karnataka. In 2023, Bengaluru police had forced performing arts space Ranga Shankara to call off an event in solidarity with Palestine, citing security risks. However, at the time, the chief minister had reiterated that creative forms of expressions such as stories, poems, dramas, or music would not be restricted in any manner.
“For no reason will creative expressions such as storytelling, poetry, theatre and music be stopped. We are in favour of all forms of expressions that are not against the core inspiration of the Constitution,” Siddaramaiah said, blaming the police for creating “misunderstandings” and “unnecessary confusion”.
This is not the first time that films are being barred from screening at the BIFFes. In 2024, Kisan Satyagraha, a documentary directed by Kannada director Kesari Haravoo, on the 2020-21 farmers’ protest, was barred from screening the after Union Information and Broadcasting ministry refused permission on the grounds that it captured a “sensitive” subject.
Ukrainian film, 20 Days in Mariupol, which showed how a team of trapped journalists in Ukraine continued to report on the Russian invasion, was also not allowed to be screened the same year.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
