CBFC has done it again! One more time they have refused to certify a movie for which we were eagerly waiting. From the day of Lipstick Under My Burkha‘s trailer launch, we were sure there will be some issues regarding this movie. Knowing what CBFC is best at we could guess the road won’t be easy for this movie. But this time CBFC has reached another level and refused to certify the movie which is winning awards at various film festivals. The movie which has brought accolades is facing issues due to censorship.
In January, Prakash Jha’s production, Lipstick Under My Burkha, directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, was screened for the Censor Board’s Examining Committee and Jha was informed that the film cannot be certified. According to Mumbai Mirror, the reasons stated in a letter read, “The story is lady oriented, their fantasy above life. There are contanious sexual scenes, abusive words, audio pornography and a bit sensitive touch about one particular section of society, hence film refused under guidelines 1(a), 2(vii), 2(ix), 2(x), 2(xi), 2(xii) and 3(i).”
An enraged Jha who is presently in London, told Mirror, “As a country we must encourage freedom of expression but the CBFC refusing to certify films that tell uncomfortable stories discourages filmmakers from pushing the envelope. Films should challenge the status quo which is what Lipstick Under My Burkha perhaps does and I believe our audience deserve to watch it.”
“It’s a feminist film with a strong female voice which challenges patriarchy. I think that’s why they don’t want to certify it. As a filmmaker, I stand by the story and will fight for it till the end,” says Alankrita Shrivastava.
We wish better sense prevails on CFBC and we are able to see intelligent female-centric films.