CBFC refuses to certify Prakash Jha’s Lipstick Under My Burkha
Decision an assault on women’s rights: Director
Mumbai, Feb. 23: The release of filmmaker Prakash Jha’s upcoming production, Lipstick Under My Burkha, starring Konkona Sen Sharma and Ratna Pathak Shah, has hit a roadblock after the censor board refused to certify the film.
Listing the reasons for denial of certificate, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in a letter, posted by Bollywood celebrities online, wrote, “The story is lady oriented, their fantasy above life. There are continuous sexual scenes, abusive words, audio pornography and a bit sensitive touch about one particular section of society, hence film refused under guidelines (sic).”
The film’s director Alankrita Shrivastava criticised the decision, saying that it was an “assault on women’s rights” and that she would fight till the end to get her film released.
“I believe the decision to refuse certification to our film is an assault on women’s rights. For too long the popular narrative has perpetuated patriarchy by objectifying women or minimising their role in a narrative. So a film like Lipstick Under My Burkha, that challenges that dominant narrative is being attacked, because it presents a female point of view. Do women not have the right of freedom of expression?” she asked in a statement.
The director said she was determined to fight the decision till the end to ensure that Indian audiences watch the movie.
“The real issue is the systematic suppression of women’s voices and the throttling of freedom of expression,” she said.
The film has won the Oxfam Award for the Best Film on Gender Equality at the Mumbai Film Festival and the Spirit of Asia prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Meanwhile, CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani has confirmed the the board’s decision to refuse certificate to the film and said that makers can approach the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) to get the film released.
“The film was not cleared by examining committee,” Mr Nihalani said.