Filmmakertakes on the censor to depict modern Indian women
in New Delhi AFTER a protracted battle with India’s censors, a film detailing the lives and dreams of four women facing oppression and violence has finally hit cinema screens, with gender-equality activists hailing it as triumph for freedom of speech.
Lipstick Under My Burkha is the tale of a group of women in the city of Bhopal, central India, who face a daily grind of brutality and prejudice but want more from life.
They take their destinies into their own hands through secret jobs, affairs and dreams of pop stardom.
Alankrita Shrivastava, the film’s writer and director, said: “I’m glad for myself and for the women of India that it’s coming out, otherwise it would have set a precedent.
“It’s not just about Lipstick being released, but I hope it encourages other film makers to realise that you can make the kind of films you want without fear. We should feel that even if we have to fight it out, then it’s worth it.”
The film follows Usha
Parmar (Ratna
Pathak Shah), a middle-aged housewife, whose interest in romantic fiction unleashes a dormant eroticism; beautician Leela (Aahana Kumra) and her dalliance with her Muslim boyfriend; student
Rehana Abdi (Plabita Borthakur), a Miley Cyrus fan who daydreams of a more fulfilling life than working in her family’s tailor shop, jumping out of her burka as soon as she leaves the house; and Shirin Aslam (Konkona Sen Sharma), who offsets her unhappy marriage to her leery husband (Sushant Singh), by becoming a door-to-door saleswoman.
Back in February, India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) called the film “lady oriented” and refused to give it a release certificate. The CBFC then went further, accusing Ms Shrivastava and the film’s producers of creating a controversy to generate hype. It said: “The story is lady oriented, their fantasy about life. There are continuous sexual scenes,scene abusive words, audio pornogpornog raphy … hence film rere fused.”
Ms Shrivastava coun countered: “He said a lot ofo things against me. HeH talked about how InIn dian films travel tot international festifest vals without InIn dian certification,certification like he’s the cencen sor for the entireentir planet. This ide idea that’s so muc much sex in the film,film it’s just a film!film There’s no nunu dity, there notno even a cleavage sho shot in it.”
The saga wa was compounded b by the fact that aud audiences from TokyoToky to Glasgow havehav already seen theth film. Bijayalaxmi Nanda, a feminist activist and researcher, who teaches political science at Miranda House, Delhi University, said: “This aggressive nationalism in India right now has definitely played a part in the censor’s stance.
“It’s like they think India is being mocked, despite the fact what happens in the film is probably very accurate.
“Let’s not kid ourselves that this will change everything but it will certainly add to a public debate, and engagement is important.”
As crowds gathered around cinemas on Friday evening to watch the film, Ms Shrivastava said she hoped it would encourage younger film makers to be brave. “Since India became independent we’ve been dealing with a lot of censorship, and a lot of self-censorship.” she said. “I feel like now as Indians we have to decide if we want to live under this kind of moral guardianship.” Lipstick Under My Burkha.
‘I hope it encourages other film makers to realise you can make the kind of films you want’