The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is back in the news, this time for denying an Indian theatrical release for Lipstick Under My Burkha. The Hindi language film is written and directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, and produced by her uncle, Prakash Jha.
In a letter justifying why the film has been denied a certification, the CBFC listed out reasons: “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.”
CBFC says Prakash Jha's Lipstick Under My Burkha can't release because it is, among other things, "lady-oriended". pic.twitter.com/IQN1uWbpdm
— Deepanjana (@dpanjana) February 23, 2017
Prakash Jha, whose earlier film, Jai Gangaajal, also got tied up with the CBFC, has said that the audience deserves to watch films that “challenge the status quo”. He added that the freedom of expression to tell “uncomfortable stories” is being quelled by CBFC.
CBFC now refuses to clear a film dealing w/ female sexuality 'cos ladkiyon ko sex ke baare mein nahi sochna chahiye. https://t.co/SHVnx9Xfba
— वरुण (@varungrover) February 23, 2017
Lipstick Under My Burkha stars Konkona Sen Sharma, Aahana Kumar, Ratna Pathak Shah and Plabita Borthakur. It is about the secret lives of four women who are out looking for freedom from the shackles of their mundane lives. While on tour at film festivals across the world, it won the Spirit of Asia Prize at Tokyo International Film Festival. It was also screened at the last Mumbai Film Festival, where it won the Oxfam Award for Best Film on Gender Equality. It will be shown at the Glasgow Film Festival this Friday.
Shrivastava said that since it is a “feminist film with a strong female voice”, the CBFC won't certify it. “As a filmmaker, I stand by the story and will fight for it till the end,” she said. Shrivastava and Jha will next appeal with the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT).
This is the third time you are messing with my job dear censor board. What freedom of speech do you go on about? https://t.co/jpgMg8AaKw
— Shashank Arora (@ShashankSArora) February 23, 2017
Shashank Arora, known for his roles in Brahman Naman and Titli, tweeted that this was the “third time” the censor board was “messing with my job”. Farhan Akhtar tweeted a photo of the letter and said, “Keep your barf bag ready...”
The news has enraged fans, who are calling out the hypocrisy and the curb on freedom of expression.
Indian Censor Board:"Hawww! How can Indians with 'Lady Parts' think of sex, let alone make a 'Lady Oriented' movie?" https://t.co/epNGwF9mO2
— Monami Bhattacharya (@MaiSelph) February 23, 2017
We were better off in earlier decades because 'choli ke peeche kya hai' was allowed when now 'lipstick under my burkha' is not.
— Tanvi (@sinpulsive) February 23, 2017
CBFC refuses to certify Lipstick under my burkha cause it talks about sex. Should women hide their sexuality under the pallu now?
— Divyani Rattanpal (@Divyanie) February 23, 2017
So this gets a full country release but lipstick under my burkha can't because of "female sexuality and desires"? pic.twitter.com/Bcj8Y4Z3Td
— Akriti Paracer (@akrii_p) February 23, 2017
