:India's Daughter

{{Main|2012 Delhi gang rape}}

File:Delhi protests-Another lamp-post revolutionary.jpg, Rajpath, December 2012]]

The documentary is based on the Delhi gang rape, an incident that occurred on 16 December 2012 in South Delhi. The victim, Jyoti Singh, watched the film Life of Pi with a male friend, Awindra Pratap Pandey,{{cite news | url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/exploring-the-lives-of-the-rape-victim-and-suspects-in-india-a-879187.html|title= Rape Tragedy in India: Dreams of 'the Fearless One'|work=Der Spiegel|date=25 January 2013 |first1=Matthias | last1=Schulz | first2=Wieland | last2=Wagner}} after which they boarded a privately run bus to return home.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/03/india-outraged-interview-man-convicted-gang-rape-student|title=India bans TV stations from showing interview with man who raped student |work=The Guardian|date=2015-03-04|first=Maseeh | last=Rahman}} She was assaulted and gang raped on the bus; her friend was also physically assaulted during the incident. Both of them were subsequently thrown from the bus. She received emergency treatment including several surgeries in India and Singapore but died on 29 December 2012 due to the serious nature of the injuries she sustained in the assault.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-20860569 | title=Delhi gang-rape victim dies in hospital in Singapore | work=BBC News | date=29 December 2012 | access-date=5 March 2015}}

The incident received widespread media coverage. It was condemned and triggered widespread public protest and criticism of the Indian government for not providing enough protection to women. International media covered the incident only after persistent public protests.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/30/world/asia/weak-response-of-india-government-in-rape-case-stokes-rage.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 | title=Leaders' Response Magnifies Outrage in India Rape Case | work=The New York Times | date=29 December 2012 | access-date=5 March 2015 | last=Yardley | first=Jim}}

Six men were arrested, including a 17-year-old juvenile, and accused as perpetrators of the assaults. One detainee was found dead in his prison cell, as a result of a possible suicide, although his relatives alleged that he had been murdered.{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Suicide-or-murder-Nirbhaya-main-accused-found-hanging-in-Tihar/articleshow/18916760.cms?referral=PM | title=Suicide or murder? Nirbhaya main accused found hanging in Tihar | work=The Times of India | date=12 March 2013 | access-date=5 March 2015 | last=Basu | first=Indrani}} The four accused men were found guilty and sentenced to death,{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/14/world/asia/4-sentenced-to-death-in-rape-case-that-riveted-india.html?emc=edit_na_20130913 | title=Many Doubt Death Sentences Will Stem India Sexual Attacks | work=The New York Times | date=13 September 2013 | access-date=5 March 2015 | last=Barry | first=Ellen}} whilst the juvenile was given 3 years imprisonment, under the Juvenile Justice Act.{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Nirbhaya-gang-rape-case-Juvenile-found-guilty-of-rape-and-murder/articleshow/22183253.cms | title=Nirbhaya gang-rape case: Juvenile found guilty of rape and murder | work=The Times of India | date=31 August 2013 | access-date=5 March 2015}}

The film is part of the BBC's ongoing Storyville series, as part of a series of international documentaries by a range of film-makers{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/tv/articles/documentaries-bbc-four-storyville|title=BBC - Storyville - Commissioning|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=2020-03-07}} It was planned to be broadcast on International Women's Day, 8 March 2015,{{cite news | url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indias-daughter-required-clearances-were-taken-744072 | title=India's Daughter: Required Clearances Were Taken by Documentary Maker | work=NDTV | date=4 March 2015 | access-date=4 March 2015}} in India on NDTV 24x7 and in UK on BBC Four.{{cite news | url=http://www.media247.co.uk/bizasia/ndtv-24x7-to-air-nirbhaya-doc-on-sunday-2015 | title=NDTV 24×7 & BBC to air 'Nirbhaya' film on Sunday | work=NDTV 24x7 | date=3 March 2015 | access-date=4 March 2015 | last=Baddhan | first=Raj | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150307223859/http://www.media247.co.uk/bizasia/ndtv-24x7-to-air-nirbhaya-doc-on-sunday-2015 | archive-date=7 March 2015 }} On 1 March 2015, it was revealed that the film-makers had interviewed one of the rapists while he was being held in the Tihar jail.{{cite news|title=Delhi bus rapist blames his victim in prison interview|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/11443462/Delhi-bus-rapist-blames-his-victim-in-prison-interview.html|access-date=6 March 2015|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=1 March 2015}}{{cite news|title=This story must be told, says filmmaker who interviewed Dec 16 rapist|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/filmmaker-accused-of-giving-platform-to-rapist-after-interview-with-december-16-convict/article1-1322618.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303113226/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/filmmaker-accused-of-giving-platform-to-rapist-after-interview-with-december-16-convict/article1-1322618.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 March 2015|access-date=6 March 2015|work=Hindustan Times|date=3 March 2015}} Soon, the news was picked up by Indian media outlets.{{cite news|title=During rape the girl shouldn't fight back, says December 16 convict|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhi-december-16-gang-rape-mukesh-singh-bbc-interview/1/421930.html|access-date=6 March 2015|work=India Today|date=6 March 2015}} The Indian government blocked its broadcast in India by obtaining a court order on 4 March 2015. The BBC said it would comply with the order and did not broadcast the film in India. In the UK however, the BBC moved the transmission forward to 4 March and it was shown on that date.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/mar/04/indias-daughter-bbc-delhi-rape-documentary-uk-india-ban | title=India's Daughter: BBC brings forward airing of Delhi rape documentary | work=The Guardian | date=4 March 2015 | access-date=5 March 2015}} The film has generated a great deal of controversy in both India and worldwide.

Udwin has said it was the protests in response to the rape that drew her to make this film. "I was absolutely awestruck by the ordinary men and women of India who poured out onto the streets in response to this horrific gang rape and who demanded change for women's rights. And I thought the least I could do was amplify their voices."{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2015/11/01/453739552/indias-daughter-opens-in-u-s-after-being-banned-in-india|title = 'India's Daughter' Opens in U.S. After Being Banned in India|newspaper = NPR.org}} In the month following the attack there were widespread protests across India against violence towards women.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-20863707|title=Delhi protests after rape death|date=2012-12-29|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-03-07|language=en-GB}} Areas across Delhi were closed and methods such as water cannons and tear gas were used in attempts to dispel the large crowds. Likewise, there was a strong social media presence and the circulation of petitions calling for change.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gadgetsnow.com/social/Delhi-gang-rape-case-Facebook-Twitter-anchoring-protest/articleshow/17741529.cms|title=Delhi gang rape case: Facebook, Twitter 'anchoring' protest - Social News {{!}} Gadgets Now|website=Gadget Now|access-date=2020-03-07}} The documentary has also sparked debates itself when it was subsequently banned in India, with NDTV refusing to broadcast another show in its place.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31790574|title=Indian TV protests against film ban|date=2015-03-08|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-03-07|language=en-GB}} Likewise, there has been debate over whether the film oversimplifies the case, reinforcing the narrative of 'good' vs 'evil', ultimately creating a two dimensional retelling of the case.{{Cite web|url=https://pacificaffairs.ubc.ca/film-reviews/indias-daughter-the-story-of-jyoti-singh-directed-and-produced-by-leslee-udwin/|title=INDIA'S DAUGHTER: The Story of Jyoti Singh {{!}} Directed and produced by Leslee Udwin {{!}} Pacific Affairs|website=pacificaffairs.ubc.ca|date=25 April 2018|access-date=2020-03-07}}

As a filmmaker and Human Rights Activist, Leslee Udwin's interest in making the film was sparked initially by the enormous numbers of people who protested in India for over a month in response to the rape of Jyoti Singh. She wanted to help give the activists a platform on which their voices would be heard around the world.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/blog/indias-daughter-director-leslee-udwin-on-the-rape-case-that-shocked-a-nation/|title=India's Daughter Director Leslee Udwin on the Rape Case That Shocked a Nation|last=Phillips|first=Craig|date=12 November 2015|website=PBS|access-date=24 February 2020}} In addition, Udwin had a desire to understand the mentality of the rapists, wondering why anyone would commit such a brutal attack. She was adamant that the documentary must involve interviews with the rapists from the attack and originally focused her attention exclusively on the rape of Jyoti Singh, a stance which later broadened.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2lrzgVZzas|title=India's Daughter, Leslee Udwin, TEDxJanpath|date=2 November 2015|website=YouTube|access-date=25 February 2015}}

To begin with Udwin wrote to the director general of Tihar Jail asking for permission to interview Jyoti Singh's rapists as this was to be at the heart of her documentary; she wanted to know why men raped women.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oQ0_fVC-Ro|title="Interview Exclusives" with Leslee Udwin of INDIA'S DAUGHTER|date=2 November 2015|website=YouTube|access-date=25 February 2020}} She was granted access and filmed for thirty-one hours over seven days in prison, which she found particularly gruelling. One of the rapists refused to speak to her, whilst Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta denied their involvement saying they weren't on the bus that night. Mukesh Singh, the bus driver, readily answered Udwin's questions and for this reason his interview was included in the film. Following these interviews her interest expanded to the wider patriarchal society and the part it plays in fuelling violence towards women and rape in India.

According to Udwin several clips had to be cut during editing. For example, an interview with one of the rapists revealed new information that was to be used in the ongoing case and therefore could not be shown in the film. Further interviews were cut as they were inappropriate to include; one interviewee asked for money on camera whilst the father and brother of another would not allow her to be involved in the film. Udwin says she would have liked to have shown a photo of Jyoti Singh in the film but could not as not only were her parents against the idea, but it was against the law in India to do so.

One of the convicted rapists, Mukesh Singh, was interviewed for the documentary. He said in the interview "When being raped, she shouldn’t fight back. She should just be silent and allow the rape. Then they’d have dropped her off after ‘doing her’, and only hit the boy."{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/05/delhi-gang-rape-documentary-airs-early-on-bbc-following-objections | title=Delhi gang-rape documentary airs early on BBC following objections | work=The Guardian | date=5 March 2015| access-date=5 March 2015 | last=Rawlinson | first=Kevin}} He later added, "A girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy … A decent girl won’t roam around at nine o’clock at night … Housework and housekeeping is for girls, not roaming in discos and bars at night doing indecent things, wearing indecent clothes." A report by the Navbharat Times speculated that Mukesh Singh was paid {{currency|40,000|INR}} (about {{currency|420|GBP}}) to do the interview. According to the report, initially he had asked for {{currency|200,000|INR}}, but the amount was negotiated down and the sum was given to his family.{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-india-s-daughter-rape-convict-paid-rs40000-for-interview-2066496 |title=India's Daughter: Rape convict paid Rs.40,000 for interview? |date=6 March 2015 |work=DNA India |access-date=7 March 2015}} However, the filmmakers deny that he was paid for the interview.{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/indias-daughters-the-ban-that-actually-isnt/article6975342.ece | title=The ban that actually isn't | work=The Hindu | date=10 March 2015 | access-date=10 March 2015 | author=Hegde, Sanjay}}

A. P. Singh, a defence lawyer in the case, was shown saying, "If my daughter or sister engaged in pre-marital activities and disgraced herself and allowed herself to lose face and character by doing such things, I would most certainly take this sort of sister or daughter to my farmhouse, and in front of my entire family, I would put petrol on her and set her alight."{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/indias-daughter-how-india-tried-to-suppress-the-bbc-delhi-gangrape-documentary-10088890.html | title=India's Daughter: How India tried to suppress the BBC Delhi gang-rape documentary | work=The Independent | date=5 March 2015 | access-date=5 March 2015 | last=Withnall | first=Adam}}

Initially, the film was set to be released on the BBC on 8 March on International Women's Day in 2015 but was banned with short notice by the Indian government due to the Indian Home Minister announcing that Leslee Udwin had failed to obtain permission to interview one of the criminals in prison or allow authorities to view versions of the interview that had not yet been cut.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/sons-and-daughters|title=Silencing "India's Daughter"|last=DenHoed|first=Andrea|date=6 March 2015|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=2 March 2020}} Following the Indian Home Minister's statement, Leslee Udwin went on to release her permission letters. The BBC reacted to the Minister of Home Affairs (India) by rescheduling the film's release in the UK to 11 March 2015. The desire amongst people to see the film spread, as unauthorised copies were released of the film, despite the Indian government's attempt to have the film banned. Jyoti's father himself, Badri Singh, states that 'everybody should see the film'.

India's Daughter was given a U.S.A theatrical release on 23 October 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/meryl-streep-bbc-rape-documentary-832551|title=Meryl Streep: BBC Rape Documentary Banned by India Deserves Oscar|author=Nyay Bhushan|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=16 October 2015|access-date=16 October 2015}}

A number of productions were made highlighting the events of the 2012 Delhi gang rape; these included Vibha Bakshi's Daughters of Mother India, which focuses on the Government and Indian societies response to the rape.{{Cite web|url=https://www.idfa.nl/en/film/fd8dfa92-650f-4f6a-9c72-c28984a873a2/daughters-of-mother-india/docs-for-sale|title=Daughters of Mother India|website=IDFA|access-date=5 March 2020}} More recently, a YouTube documentary United Kingdom's Daughters by Harvinder Singh, was a response to India's Daughter that put India as a country in a negative light.{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/united-kingdoms-daughters-an-indian-mans-response-to-bbcs-documentary-on-delhi-gangrape/|title=United Kingdom's Daughters, an Indian man's response to BBC's documentary on Delhi gangrape|date=12 March 2015|website=The Indian Express|access-date=1 March 2020}}

Upon India's Daughter release, following the controversy that surrounded the case, the government banned the film, which then pushed the film further into the spotlight, with critics becoming aware of the film and then censored by the Indian Administration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.e-ir.info/2015/04/10/indias-daughter-and-the-limits-of-transnational-feminist-solidarity/|title=India's Daughter and the Limits of Transnational Feminist Solidarity|last=Durham|first=Meenakshi|date=10 April 2015|website=E- International Relations|access-date=5 March 2020}} The movement that followed this film's release meant that Jyoti Singh became a 'symbol' of the drive for the change in injustices of violence against women.

During its release, Meryl Streep was amongst the public figures who rallied behind India's Daughter, attending multiple screenings of the film, including one at the World Congress on Family Law and Children's Rights.{{Cite web|url=http://wcflcr2017.com/indias-daughter/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170604104020/http://wcflcr2017.com/indias-daughter/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=4 June 2017|title=Screening of India's Daughter|website=WCFLCR}}

Then U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stéphane Dujarric stated on 5 March, "I'm not going to comment on the unspeakable comments that were made by the person accused of raping this girl, but I think the secretary-general has spoken very clearly on the need to halt violence against women and on the need for men to get involved in halting violence against women and decrying it loud and clear every time it occurs."{{cite news|last=Varandani|first=Suman|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/indias-daughter-bbc-documentary-delhi-gang-rape-banned-india-airs-uk-1836750|title=India's Daughter: BBC Documentary On Delhi Gang Rape Banned In India, Airs In The UK|date=5 March 2015|work=International Business Times}}

In an interview on 5 March 2015, the parents of the victim said that everybody should watch the documentary.{{cite news|last=Ghosh|first=Deepshikha|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/everyone-must-see-indias-daughter-says-nirbhayas-father-after-ban-in-india-744411|title=Everyone Must See 'India's Daughter,' Says Nirbhaya's Father, After Ban in India|date=5 March 2015|work=NDTV|access-date=5 March 2015}} Bollywood figures including Anushka Sharma, Abhishek Kapoor, Sonal Chauhan, Twinkle Khanna and Punit Malhotra condemned the ban on the same day.{{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/nothing-should-be-banned-anushka-sharma-speaks-on-indias-daughter-2145141.html|title=Nothing should be banned: Anushka Sharma speaks on 'India's Daughter'|date=10 Mar 2015|work=Firstpost}}{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/b-town-slams-governments-ban-on-bbc-documentary-indias-daughter/articleshow/46467920.cms|title=B-Town slams government's ban on BBC documentary 'India's Daughter'|date=5 March 2015|work=The Economic Times}}

Awindra Pandey, the friend of the victim who was injured in the attack, said, "The facts are hidden and the content is fake. Only Jyoti and I know what happened on that night and the documentary is far from truth."{{cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/nirbhayas-friend-who-was-with-her-on-the-fateful-night-calls-indias-daughter-a-fake-film-972447.html|title=Nirbhaya's friend, who was with her on the fateful night, calls the documentary a fake film|work=IBNLive}}

The Indian government was aware of the negativity that this film would bring; they were quick to try to ban the release of the film anticipating the ethical and legal problems that would follow with this film's release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/03/i-am-not-indias-daughter/387574/|title=I Am Not India's Daughter|last=Misra|first=Tanvi|date=12 March 2015|website=The Atlantic|access-date=24 February 2020}}

There have been questions raised around the rape and the 'cinematic interrogation' that have brought a number of different tensions with the film displaying interviews from the perpetrators themselves about the incident and their ideals of rape and the woman.

The impact of tourism was a worry to the Indian government with the film showing India in a negative light.

Negativity was projected onto Leslee Udwin following the release of the film; she was accused of using 'bribery' for the interviews with the convicted rapists. Udwin responded by claiming she remained 'ethical' throughout the filming process.

Some believe the film has brought 'nothing new' and the purpose of the audience being blurred.{{Cite journal|last=Srinivasa|first=Sharada|date=25 June 2018|title=INDIA'S DAUGHTER: The Story of Jyoti Singh {{!}} Directed and produced by Leslee Udwin|url=https://pacificaffairs.ubc.ca/film-reviews/indias-daughter-the-story-of-jyoti-singh-directed-and-produced-by-leslee-udwin/|journal=Pacific Affairs|volume=89|via=The University of British Columbia}}

Feminist campaigner Kavita Krishnan, who appears in the film, praised aspects of the film but stated that the film's title reinforces patriarchal attitudes that Indian women are expected to "behave themselves". She says that the film is part of a wider "white saviour" mentality. She also said the film failed to profile Indian men who are "on the side of law and order and morality".{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2015/03/10/392111392/an-anti-rape-activist-is-disturbed-by-indias-daughter|title=An Anti-Rape Activist Is Disturbed By 'India's Daughter'|date=10 March 2015|work=NPR}}{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyo.in/politics/kavita-krishnan-nirbhaya-december-16-indias-daughter-leslee-udwin-mukesh-singh-bbc/story/1/2347.html |title=Nirbhaya film: Solidarity is what we want, not a civilising mission |author=Kavita Krishnan |date=3 March 2015 |work=DailyO |access-date=7 March 2014}} Christopher Booker, columnist for The Telegraph, said that by leaving out comparison to the number of rapes in other countries that previews of the documentary reportedly included, the film reinforced the stereotype of Indian men as sexual predators to an exceptional degree.{{cite news |last1=Booker |first1=Christopher |author1-link=Christopher Booker |title=Why to blacken India on rape do they have to omit the facts? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/11472416/Why-to-blacken-India-on-rape-do-they-have-to-omit-the-facts.html |access-date=17 May 2022 |work=The Telegraph |date=14 March 2015}}

Meenakshi Lekhi, a Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson, claimed that in screening the documentary on BBC 4 – which she falsely claimed was a channel that did not cover "social" issues – filmmakers didn't stick to the stated objective of a "social purpose" and were instead trying to benefit "commercially" by creating controversies, despite the fact that BBC 4 – like all BBC channels in the UK – does not show and is not funded by advertising.{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rape-is-a-global-issue-then-why-is-only-India-in-the-spotlight-BJPs-Meenakshi-Lekhi/articleshow/46513189.cms|title=Rape is a global issue, then why is only India in the spotlight|date=10 March 2015|work=The Times of India|access-date=15 March 2015}}

File:Lois Vossen and Leslee Udwin at the 75th Annual Peabody Awards for Independent Lens-India's Daughter.jpg

Meryl Streep and Freida Pinto, actresses and ambassadors of Because I Am a Girl, expressed their support to the director and film.{{cite news | url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-others/indias-daughter-gets-support-from-meryl-streep-freida-pinto/ | title='India's Daughter' gets support from Meryl Streep, Freida Pinto | work=The Indian Express | publisher=Express News Service | date=8 March 2015 | access-date=8 March 2015}}{{cite news | url=http://www.ibtimes.com/bbc-gang-rape-documentary-meryl-streep-attend-us-premiere-indias-daughter-new-york-1839592 | title=BBC Gang-Rape Documentary: Meryl Streep To Attend US Premiere Of 'India's Daughter' In New York | work=International Business Times | date=8 March 2015 | access-date=8 March 2015 | author=Varandani, Suman}} On 9 March, the documentary film screened during an event at Baruch College, New York City.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} Freida Pinto used her social media outreach for action on Twitter to target Prime Minister of India.

The Guardian are amongst some of the positive reviews that India's Daughter acclaimed, describing the film as 'essential viewing' and notes how Leslee Udwin juxtaposes the 'light' of Jyoti Singh with the 'darkness' of depiction of the rapists.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/mar/05/indias-daughter-review-this-film-does-what-the-politicians-should-be-doing|title=India's Daughter Review - this film does what politicians should be doing|last=Faleiro|first=Sonia|date=5 March 2015|website=The Guardian|access-date=2 March 2020}}

{{Further|Censorship in India}}

On 1 March 2015, the film-makers revealed that they had interviewed one of the rapists, when he was being held in the Tihar jail. The news was picked up by Indian media outlets soon afterwards. The statements made by the convict created a public outcry in India.{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/indias-daughter-bbc-four-documentary-provokes-outrage-on-twitter-10086622.html | title=India's Daughter: BBC Four documentary provokes outrage on Twitter | work=The Independent | date=4 March 2015 | access-date=5 March 2015 | last=Gander | first=Kashmira}}

The Delhi Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) on 3 March against the filmmakers under Sections 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 505(1)(b) (With intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public), 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (Punishment for sending offensive messages through communication service).{{cite news|title=December 16 gangrape convict interview: Delhi Police registers FIR|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/december-16-gangrape-convict-interview-delhi-police-registers-fir/|access-date=7 March 2015|work=The Indian Express|date=6 March 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Barry |first1=Ellen |title=Broadcast of India Gang Rape Documentary Is Banned by Court |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/05/world/asia/indian-court-bans-broadcast-of-documentary-on-delhi-gang-rape.html |access-date=7 March 2020 |work=New York Times |date=4 March 2015}} The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Economic Offences Wing) of New Delhi, Rajneesh Garg said, "These excerpts of the interview as published are highly offensive and have already created a situation of tension and fear among women in society. Therefore, in the interest of justice and maintenance of public order, an application was made in court seeking restraining order from publishing, transmitting, uploading and broadcasting the interview."{{cite news|title=Offensive content: Cops say convict's interview created fear|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/463577/offensive-content-cops-say-convicts.html|access-date=7 March 2015|work=Deccan Herald|date=5 March 2015}}{{cite web |title=Why Was The Nirbhaya Documentary Banned |url=https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/8/2783/Why-Was-The-Nirbhaya-Documentary-Banned |website=thecitizen.in |publisher=The Citizen |date=5 March 2015|access-date=26 February 2020}}

The Indian government blocked the broadcast in India by obtaining a court order on 4 March 2015. BBC sources said they would comply with the order in India. In the United Kingdom, however, the BBC broadcast the film on the evening of 4 March. The film was also uploaded to YouTube, and soon went viral with several shares on the social media. On 5 March, the Indian government requested that YouTube block the video in India and YouTube complied the same day. NDTV expressed its silent protest by screening flickering lamp on a black screen during the scheduled time slot.{{cite news | url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-ndtv-runs-blank-screen-to-protest-the-ban-on-india-s-daughter-2067098 | title=NDTV runs blank screen to protest the ban on 'India's Daughter' | work=Daily News and Analysis | date=8 March 2015 | access-date=8 March 2015}}

On 4 March in the Indian Parliament, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Our government condemns the incident of December 16, 2012 in the strongest possible terms and will not allow any attempt by any individual, group or organisation to leverage such unfortunate incidents for commercial benefit. The respect and dignity of women, constitutes a core value of our culture and tradition. Our government remains fully committed to ensuring safety and dignity of women." Rajya Sabha member Javed Akhtar said, "It's good that this documentary has been made. Crores of men in India have now come to know that they think like a rapist. If it is sounding dirty, they have to think."{{cite news|title=Nirbhaya case: MPs outraged over interview|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nirbhaya-case-MPs-outraged-over-interview/articleshow/46462241.cms|access-date=7 March 2015|work=The Times of India|date=5 March 2015}}{{cite news |title=BBC airs 'India's Daughter' in UK|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/463552/bbc-airs-indias-daughter-uk.html |publisher=Deccan Herald |date=4 March 2015 | access-date=21 February 2020}} (A crore is equal to ten million.)

The film's director, Leslee Udwin, appealed to the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to lift the ban in India on 4 March 2015.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/04/indias-daughter-director-appeals-to-narendra-modi-over-broadcast-ban | title=Delhi rape documentary-maker appeals to Narendra Modi over broadcast ban | work=The Guardian | date=4 March 2015 | access-date=5 March 2015 | last=Rahman | first=Maseeh}}

On 5 March, Tihar Jail authorities sent a legal notice to the filmmakers. They claimed that the filmmakers had violated the conditions under which they were given permission to film inside the prison. They claimed they had been screened a shorter version of the documentary and also said that they asked the producers to delete the interview with the convict.{{cite news|title=Tihar Jail sends notice to BBC, director Udwin for breach of conditions|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/tihar-jail-sends-notice-to-bbc-udwin-for-breach-of-conditions/|access-date=6 March 2015|work=The Indian Express|date=6 March 2015}} Udwin denied this saying that she had submitted 16 hours of "raw, unedited footage", but the review committee told her after watching three hours of it, "We can’t sit through all this, it’s too long." She said that she then submitted an edited version that was cleared.

On 6 March the Bar Council of India sent a show cause notice to the two lawyers, M. L. Sharma and A. P. Singh, who had made misogynistic statements in the documentary.{{cite news|title=Bar Council of India issues show cause notices to lawyers for anti-women remarks|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/crime/bar-council-of-india-issues-show-cause-notices-to-lawyers-for-anti-women-remarks/|access-date=7 March 2015|work=The Indian Express|date=7 March 2015}}{{cite journal |last1=Lazar |first1=Michelle M. |editor1-last=Flowerdew |editor1-first=John |editor2-last=Richardson |editor2-first=John E. |title=Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis |journal=The Routledge Handbook of Critical Discourse Studies |date=2018 |volume=1 |pages=378–381 |doi=10.4324/9781315739342 |isbn=9781315739342 |url=https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Handbook-of-Critical-Discourse-Studies-1st-Edition/Flowerdew-Richardson/p/book/9781138826403 |access-date=5 March 2020|hdl=10179/14194 |hdl-access=free }}

On 7 March Najma Heptullah, the Minority Affairs Minister, blamed the previous UPA government for allowing the film to be made. She said she fully supports Home Minister Rajnath Singh's stance on the subject.{{cite news|title=Najma slams UPA govt for Nirbhaya documentary|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/najma-slams-upa-govt-for-nirbhaya-documentary/article6969549.ece|access-date=8 March 2015|work=The Hindu|date=7 March 2015}}{{cite news |title=Najma Heptullah slams UPA govt for allowing to make BBC documentary |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/najma-heptullah-slams-upa-govt-for-allowing-to-make-bbc-documentary/articleshow/46485203.cms?from=mdr|publisher=The Economic Times |date=7 March 2015 |access-date=26 February 2020}}

On 8 March Siddaramaiah, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, criticised the BBC for giving priority to the film.{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/karnataka-cm-criticises-bbc-for-airing-indias-daughter/article6971777.ece | title=Karnataka CM criticises BBC for airing 'India's Daughter' | work=The Hindu | date=8 March 2015 | access-date=8 March 2015 | author=Khajane, Muralidhara}} An email posted on Quora, which showed a German professor of Leipzig University rejecting an Indian male student's internship because of the "rape problem in India", went viral.{{cite news|title=Viral now: Quora query on German prof's refusal to give internship to Indian student|url= http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/german-professor-leipzig-university-india-rape-culture-refuse-student-internship/1/422825.html|access-date=9 March 2015|work=India Today|date=9 March 2015}} The professor later apologised to the student.{{cite news|title=German Professor Apologises For 'Rape Problem' Email To Indian Student|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/03/09/leipzig-university-apolog_n_6829270.html|access-date=9 March 2015|work=Huffington Post India|date=9 March 2015}} The German Ambassador to India, Michael Steiner tried to contain damage and criticised the professor in an open letter.{{cite web|last1=Stein|first1=Michael|title=Dear Prof. Beck-Sickinger|url=http://www.india.diplo.de/contentblob/4475784/Daten/5221636/Letter.pdf|publisher=Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, New Delhi|access-date=9 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310221441/http://www.india.diplo.de/contentblob/4475784/Daten/5221636/Letter.pdf|archive-date=10 March 2015|url-status=dead}}

A Public Interest Litigation was filed in the Delhi High Court to lift the stay order on the broadcast of the documentary. The petitioners claimed the ban violated freedom of expression under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution.{{cite news |last1=Rahman |first1=Maseeh |title=Delhi high court refuses to rule on India's Daughter ban |work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/mar/12/delhi-high-court-indias-daughter-film |date=12 March 2015 |access-date=24 February 2020}}{{cite journal |last1=Abdelwahed |first1=Tamara |last2=Gaumert |first2=Stella |last3=Konrad |first3=Laura |title=The Influence of Public Outrage on Law Making: The Example of Indian Rape Cases in |journal=VRÜ Verfassung und Recht in Übersee |date=2018 |volume=51 |issue=4 |pages=478–498 |doi=10.5771/0506-7286-2018-4-478 }} On 12 March 2015, the Court said the ban cannot be lifted as the appeals of the convicts are under trial in the Supreme Court of India.{{cite news|title=Ban because case not over|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ban-because-case-not-over/articleshow/46547692.cms|access-date=27 March 2015|work=The Times of India|date=13 March 2015}} There has been no change in the status of the ban in India because the convicts have been under trial. In 2020, their death penalty sentence by hanging has been ordered by the Magistrates Court to happen on 20 March 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/delhi-gangrape-case-mukesh-singh-files-fresh-curative-petition-in-sc-11583494039205.html|title=Delhi gangrape case: Mukesh Singh files fresh curative petition in SC|last=Bindra|first=Japnam|date=6 March 2020|website=livemint.com|access-date=7 March 2020}} There has been no word on what the status of the film's ban in India will be after the convict's deaths.

• Censorship in India
• Geeta and Sanjay Chopra kidnapping case, a 1978 case in which the death row convicts were allowed to be interviewed
• Nirbhaya Fund, projects to utilize on dignity and ensuring safety of women in India
• Nirbheek, India's first revolver for women
• Rape in India

{{Reflist|3}}

• {{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/indias-daughters-the-ban-that-actually-isnt/article6975342.ece | title=The ban that actually isn't | work=The Hindu | date=10 March 2015 | author=Sanjay Hegde}}
• {{cite news|title=Indian Home Minister's Statement on BBC Four's Storyville in Rajya Sabha (Press Release)|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=116442|work=Press Information Bureau|date=4 March 2015}}

• {{IMDb title|id =tt4058426|title =India's Daughter}}

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