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Indian censor board refuses to certify Prakash Jha's upcoming film, 'Lipstick Under My Burkha'

Indian censor board refuses to certify Prakash Jha's upcoming film, 'Lipstick Under My Burkha'

A letter from the CBFC claims the story is 'lady-oriented' with 'contentious sexual scenes'.
23 Feb, 2017

The examining committee of the Central Board of Film Certification has refused to certify Prakash Jha’s upcoming film, Lipstick Under My Burkha, citing multiple reasons including abusive language and “women’s fantasies”.

“The story is lady-oriented, their fantasy above life. There are contentious sexual scenes, abusive words, audio pornography and a bit sensitive touch about one particular section of society,” read the letter from CBFC, according to Mumbai Mirror.

The film is directed by Alankrita Shrivastava and produced by Prakash Jha. It was screened to the CBFC’s examining committee in January. It is now awaiting a formal letter from the Revising Committee. Once they get that, they will approach the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, said director Shrivastava. CBFC chief Pankaj Nihalani, however, told Mumbai Mirror that it was the producer’s duty to get the official letter from the revising committee’s office.

A shot from the upcoming film, Lipstick Under My Burkha.
A shot from the upcoming film, Lipstick Under My Burkha.

Recently, Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer Haraamkhor had taken the same measure and got a U/A certificate after the CBFC has refused to certify the film. It was based on a teacher and student’s illicit relationship.

Director Shrivastava, who is at the Glasgow Film Festival for the film’s premiere on February 24, believes that the film has been refused a certificate because it challenges patriarchy. “It’s a feminist film with a strong female voice. 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,” the director told Mumbai Mirror.

Producer Jha said that the CBFC’s step discourages filmmakers from telling uncomfortable stories and curbs freedom of expression. “Films should challenge the status quo, which is what Lipstick Under My Burkha perhaps does and I believe our audience deserve to watch it,” he told the daily.

Set in a small town of India, Lipstick Under My Burkha is about four women who are in search of freedom. It stars Konkona Sen Sharma, Ratna Pathak Shah, Aahana Kumra and Plabita Borthakur in the leading roles. The film has already won the Oxfam Award for Best Film on Gender Equality at the Mumbai Film Festival and the Spirit of Asia Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival.


This article originally appeared on Scroll.in and has been reproduced with permission.

Comments

BNJ Feb 23, 2017 07:09pm
Pahlaj Nihlani has gone crazy and needs a mental asylum instead of CBFC chairmanship. This film will release,if CBFC doesn't clear it then the Bombay high court will clear it.Period.
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Thoroughthinker Feb 23, 2017 07:46pm
Any normal feature film is for family entertainment and abusive language is what a family strives to keep away from the family having learning age children. Therefore, they least tolerate it at any place.
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Ravi Feb 23, 2017 10:57pm
CBFC should have power of giving certification only not censoring the movies. It should be totally left on viewers what they want to watch...
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KHKHan Feb 24, 2017 02:33am
Sorry Parkash Jha dealing with Indians is not easy.
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ABDULRAHMAN Feb 24, 2017 04:49am
@BNJ - This is a publicity stunt these days! every low budget movie director producer create a controversy before releasing their movie - this has become a new trend to make more profit. But public is no fool. we have seen many moves flopped recently like Udta Punjab. They must remember that they cannot fool people any longer by showing nonsense type movies.
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TechScribe Feb 24, 2017 09:48am
Pahlaj Nihlani is a really bad choice for the sensor board chief's role. He should go. It's time we scrapped the censor board and replaced it with a film certification board. We are acting like a nanny state.
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Sara Feb 24, 2017 10:47am
I will definitely watch this movie.
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bk Feb 24, 2017 01:02pm
Let people decide what they want to watch and what not.
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kerala Feb 24, 2017 01:33pm
@Thoroughthinker Who told you this film as a family film?
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deven Feb 25, 2017 07:45am
If men have have fantasies,so do the women . Surely lots of research must have gone in the project prior to making the film. I count Prakash Jha as one of the best Bollywood director/producer whose films reflect the realities of our society.
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NOMANSLAND Feb 25, 2017 08:02am
@KHKHan What are you talking about ?! Prakash jha is himself an Indian !!
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@Mirza Feb 25, 2017 12:29pm
@Sara Me too
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naila sattar Feb 25, 2017 02:00pm
its total a public stunt I will definitely watch the movie ,whatever about the progress and esteem of film the crazy and scintillating work can be seen.
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Sana Feb 25, 2017 03:34pm
@Thoroughthinker All movies are not for "families' and not for children but movies focusing on women and their need for feeling powerful are very few stories can be told in so many ways- sometimes foul language is part of the atmosphere nothing good or bad about it - adults can watch the movie, young women can feel inspired or validated by the characters everything is not about wrong or right and moral issues
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