"Lipstick Under My Burkha" was screened at various film festivals across the world prior to its theatrical release,receiving huge accolades from renowned film critiques,making it a highly anticipated film for the moviebuffs in India and abroad.The news that the makers had to plea to the appellate authority(FCAT) for a release after getting a no from CBFC marked up the excitement surrounding the film that has finally managed to hit the silverscreen after bidding adieu to all the dark clouds spread over it.
What made the censors reject the certification and to make derogatory remarks like "the story is lady-oriented,their fantasy about life" is shocking and alarming for the future of Indian movie scene that has remained heavily censured from time immemorial.Ironically,I felt the opposite that the best thing about the movie is that it could succeed in making strong statements without being offensive for a second,something that calls for a gifted writer-director like Alankrita Shrivastava.The key to narration used here is dark humor that's there in sumptuous amount for the whole of the narration.
The movie focuses on the lives of four women who rebel against the social stereotypes quartered on them and the never ending contrast conflict between their dreams and the vested interests of the patriarchal society has been strikingly reproduced in the narrative without any reservations,unnecessary cinematic liberties or over- melodrama unlike many recent movies that handled the same issue(Leave aside Leena Yadavs's riveting drama feature "Parched").Th word "Burkha" in the title is used to represent the veil over feminine dreams and no way targetted at hurting the religious sentiments of the Muslim community in the country.
The universal truth that the sexuality of women and their desires can never go hand-in-hand with the misogynistic pre-assumptions that's prevalent in the society has been enlightened by the movie at various situations in the narrative.In one scene we get to see a groom-to-be saying to his prospective bride that fortunately they have bought a new television set at their home so that she can be happily relaxed inside the home once they are married and in another shocker of a scene our protagonists makes a sigh that their biggest mistake is that they dream too much,an eye-opener into the plight of numerous women who are nothing but slaves inside their own homes.
Even though the movie isn't heavily censured,abrupt cuts were felt at few point in the narrative which could have been taken care of while on the editing table.The conclusion of the movie was predictable and slightly weaker on comparison with the rest of the narrative.Solid performances stand as the backbone of the griping narrative and it was delight to watch all the lead-ladies perform well on the screen.The pick among the cast I felt was Konkona Sen Sharma and debutante Plabita Borthakur who both gave excellent performances in their respective roles.Ratna Patahk Sha and Aahana Kumra too were equally good and made their roles memorable.Vaibhav Tatwawaadi,Sushant Singh,Vikrant Massey etc gave good supporting performances.
Music by Zebunnisa Bangash and Mangesh Dhakde was adequate for the narrative.Technical side was handled really well even though the budget of the movie was very low in comparison with other biggies from Bollywood.
Overall,Lipstick Under My Burkha is a daring and whole-hearted women-oriented film that's worth a watch from the cinemas at the earliest!
What made the censors reject the certification and to make derogatory remarks like "the story is lady-oriented,their fantasy about life" is shocking and alarming for the future of Indian movie scene that has remained heavily censured from time immemorial.Ironically,I felt the opposite that the best thing about the movie is that it could succeed in making strong statements without being offensive for a second,something that calls for a gifted writer-director like Alankrita Shrivastava.The key to narration used here is dark humor that's there in sumptuous amount for the whole of the narration.
The movie focuses on the lives of four women who rebel against the social stereotypes quartered on them and the never ending contrast conflict between their dreams and the vested interests of the patriarchal society has been strikingly reproduced in the narrative without any reservations,unnecessary cinematic liberties or over- melodrama unlike many recent movies that handled the same issue(Leave aside Leena Yadavs's riveting drama feature "Parched").Th word "Burkha" in the title is used to represent the veil over feminine dreams and no way targetted at hurting the religious sentiments of the Muslim community in the country.
The universal truth that the sexuality of women and their desires can never go hand-in-hand with the misogynistic pre-assumptions that's prevalent in the society has been enlightened by the movie at various situations in the narrative.In one scene we get to see a groom-to-be saying to his prospective bride that fortunately they have bought a new television set at their home so that she can be happily relaxed inside the home once they are married and in another shocker of a scene our protagonists makes a sigh that their biggest mistake is that they dream too much,an eye-opener into the plight of numerous women who are nothing but slaves inside their own homes.
Even though the movie isn't heavily censured,abrupt cuts were felt at few point in the narrative which could have been taken care of while on the editing table.The conclusion of the movie was predictable and slightly weaker on comparison with the rest of the narrative.Solid performances stand as the backbone of the griping narrative and it was delight to watch all the lead-ladies perform well on the screen.The pick among the cast I felt was Konkona Sen Sharma and debutante Plabita Borthakur who both gave excellent performances in their respective roles.Ratna Patahk Sha and Aahana Kumra too were equally good and made their roles memorable.Vaibhav Tatwawaadi,Sushant Singh,Vikrant Massey etc gave good supporting performances.
Music by Zebunnisa Bangash and Mangesh Dhakde was adequate for the narrative.Technical side was handled really well even though the budget of the movie was very low in comparison with other biggies from Bollywood.
Overall,Lipstick Under My Burkha is a daring and whole-hearted women-oriented film that's worth a watch from the cinemas at the earliest!