The controversial documentary "India's Daughter" has debuted in the U.S. and received support from Hollywood actress Meryl Streep.

The "India's Daughter" documentary, premiered in Monday, March 9, was attended by known celebrities such Dakota Fanning, Streep and Freida Pinto, Chicago Tribune cited.

According to the Daily Mail, the actresses who attended the premiere of British filmmaker Leslee Udwin documentary wore black possibly out of respect for the evening's serious matter.

The screening has been held at Baruch College and organizers said that about 650 people have joined the said event.

The "India's Daughter" documentary, which has been banned in India, was presented on behalf of an organization that empowers emerging women leaders - the Vital Voices Global Partnership and children's development organization Plan International.

Streep and Pinto are both global ambassadors for Plan International's Because I Am A Girl campaign.

The site added that the event started with a vigil spearheaded by Oscar-winner Streep, who lit candles to honor the 23-year-old physiotherapy student Jyoti Singh who died after being raped by six men on a bus in 2012.

"Tonight we light these candles to honor the value and the work of Jyoti Singh's short, promising life," said Streep. "She was India's daughter, tonight she's our daughter too."

Furthermore, the rape triggered a massive street protests in support of the women's rights in India.

The six men who are responsible were quickly found and currently five were sentenced to death, one committed suicide in prison and the sixth has received a three-year jail term because he was 17 at the time it happened.

The film should be aired on an Indian television station on Sunday, in line with the celebration of International Women's Day, however, a court ordered the station not to show the documentary.

The editorial director Sonia Singh tweeted ahead of the protests, "we won't shout, but we will be heard," as ABC reported.