The release of filmmaker Prakash Jha\u2019s upcoming production \u201cLipstick Under My Burkha,\u201d starring Konkona Sensharma and Ratna Pathak Shah, has hit a roadblock after the censor board refused to certify the film. \u2013 @siliconeer #siliconeer #Bollywood @Bollywood #PrakashJha #KonkonaSensharma #RatnaPathakShah #LipstickUnderMyBurkha #LipstickWaleSapne<\/p>\n
Listing the reasons for denial of certificate, Central Board of Film Certification in a letter, posted by Bollywood celebrities online, wrote, \u201cThe story is lady oriented, their fantasy above life. There are sexual scenes, abusive words, audio pornography and a bit sensitive touch about one particular section of society, hence film refused under guidelines (sic).\u201d<\/p>\n
The film\u2019s director Alankrita Shrivastava criticized CBFC\u2019s decision saying it is an \u201cassault on women\u2019s rights\u201d and she will fight till the end to get her film released.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe the decision to refuse certification to our film is an assault on women\u2019s rights. For too long the popular narrative has perpetuated patriarchy by objectifying women or minimizing their role in a narrative.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo a film like \u2018Lipstick Under My Burkha,\u2019 that challenges that dominant narrative is being attacked because it presents a female point of view. Do women not have the right of freedom of expression?\u201d she said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The director said she is determined to fight the decision till the end to ensure that Indian audiences watch movie.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe real issue is the systematic suppression of women\u2019s voices and the throttling of freedom of expression.\u201d<\/p>\n
The film has won the Oxfam Award for the Best Film on Gender Equality at the Mumbai Film Festival and the Spirit of Asia prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani has confirmed the board\u2019s decision to refuse certificate to the film and said that makers can approach the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal to get the film released.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe film was not cleared by examining committee and then it went to revising committee which also declined certification. The makers can now approach FCAT and get it cleared from there,\u201d Nihalani told PTI.<\/p>\n
When asked to respond to Shrivastava\u2019s claim that the decision was an attempt to curb freedom of expression, Nihalani said, \u201cIt is not the first film in the history of censor board to not get certification. We don\u2019t go out and tell which film gets certificate and which does not. It is their freedom of expression.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrakash Jha is an experienced filmmaker and he successfully managed to get his last film \u2018Jai Gangaajal\u2019 released without cuts. It is his right to approach the tribunal and the court to get his film cleared.\u201d<\/p>\n
Besides Konkona and Ratna Pathak, \u201cLipstick Under My Burkha\u201d also features Aahana Kumra, Plabita Borthakur, Sushant Singh, Vikrant Massey and Shashank Arora.<\/p>\n
The decision has attracted criticism from Bollywood celebrities like Farhan Akhtar, Vishal Dadlani and Renuka Shahane.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The release of filmmaker Prakash Jha\u2019s upcoming production \u201cLipstick Under My Burkha,\u201d starring Konkona Sensharma and Ratna Pathak Shah, has hit a roadblock after the censor board refused to certify the film. \u2013 @siliconeer #siliconeer #Bollywood @Bollywood #PrakashJha #KonkonaSensharma #RatnaPathakShah #LipstickUnderMyBurkha #LipstickWaleSapne Listing the reasons for denial of certificate, Central Board of Film Certification in…<\/p>\n