Picture Credit- YouTube
Lipstick under my burkha, directed by Alankrita Srivastava is a new frame for Hindi Cinema. It is a piece of art exploring the genre of female sexuality like it has never been done before in the Indian cinematic landscape.
The film was banned in April 2017 by CBFC as the board had refused to certify, saying that it was too ‘lady oriented’. It opens up the conversation on female sexual desires.
Introduction
Movie Name - Lipstick Under My Burkha
Director Name - Alankrita Shrivastava
Duration - 2hr 12min
Genre - Dark Comedy, Drama
Cast - Aahana Kumra, Ratna Pathak Shah, Plabita Borthakur and Konkana Sen
Plot (spoiler alert !)
The story is about four women living in one dilapidated building called Hawai Manzil. Ratana Pathak Shah gets under the skin of the character, plays an old woman who is a widow, is called ‘bua ji’ by everyone in the society out of respect, while her name is Usha. A number of tenants live in her building, and the other three ladies are also the tenants.
Rehana is an 18 year old, college going girl. She wishes to explore and live her life on her own terms in the best way possible. She wants to taste the freedom that life offers and do cool things that an average college going student wishes to and also explore her sexuality.
She wishes to wear jeans and put on makeup. But her family is conservative and expects her to limit her world to her burkha. She wants to sing like Miley but her family does not support it.
They even don't approve of her dancing freely in a wedding. The world beyond her burkha seems interesting to her. She wants to live and grab what is outside.
Leela is getting married to Manoj even though against her will. She wishes to elope with her lover and set up her own business and be independent. Manoj’s family denies her working after the marriage. There is no concept of privacy in Manoj’s family.
While Manoj can give her a roof over her head he cannot provide her with the freedom she so desires. Being with Arshad gives her freedom but no sense of security, she is stuck between two men. Patriarchy in society is such where they reward women for being suppressive.
The character of Shirin, beautifully portrayed by Konkana Sen presents the issue of sex without consent. She doesn't even have the courage to tell her husband that she works as a saleswoman. Her husband tends to control her life. Her husband does not use a condom due to which she gets medical problems.
When she herself got a condom from the chemist and told him she is a saleswoman he rapes Shirin. He forgets that sex is about mutual consent. Bringing out the issue of marital rape. While he himself has an extra-marital affair.
Psychological Analysis
When women get old and reach a certain age, they are expected to live their life as per the rules defined by the society. She is denied the fact that she too can have sexual needs. While a man of her age is shown, looking for a bride, the bride could be as young as 30 or 40.
While Usha is expected to live her life in a plain, simple manner denied any pleasure, especially sexual one. When her family gets to know she was involved in textual sex she is thrown out of her house.
Shirin is called “besharam” by her husband for getting a condom and for being a salesgirl, while he himself rapes her and has an extra-marital affair.
Issue of lack of privacy in Indian households is also acknowledged. Usha has children sleeping in her room. Leela is being married off to a house where women and men live in separate rooms and women are expected not to work after marriage and handle the household responsibilities.
While Rehana is lucky to have a room, she does everything discreetly making sure nobody knows she is singing and dancing. Or even who she truly is.
Critical Reception
At the New York Indian Film Festival Konkana won the best actress award. Ratna Pathak Shah won the best actress award at Ottawa Indian Film Festival. It won several other awards globally such as the best feature film and premiered at various film festivals including being eligible for Golden Globes.
Conclusion
These Characters are as flawed, conflicted and overpowered by patriarchy as we are. Shirin’s character shows the angst and enigma of women who dare to dream. Usha revolts against the age old belief that only young people are allowed to have sexual desires.
Leela is a fearless young woman who wants to do everything on her own terms, fulfill her dreams, have sex, a lot of it without regretting about it.
Rehana is a dichotomy in herself - she knows the taste of freedom but knows that she will never be able to taste it underneath the burqa she wears. The characters possess the power in itself to make you question the corn beliefs of your social structure.
The sad truth is that we have a long way to go. But not everything is lost as Buaji said in the end "these stories help us find courage in ourselves to fulfill our dreams".
Rating - 5/5
Written By - Manika Gupta
Edited By - Sakshi Singh
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