It is time for women to own their sexuality, says Konkana Sen Sharma!

Lipstick Under My Burkha is not only a film but is going to be a revolution in the Indian cinema. The movie starring Konkana Sen Sharma and Ratna Pathak, Aahana Kumra, Plabita Borthakur, Sushant Singh, Vikrant Massey and Shashank Arora has been in the news for its loud and controversial content.

After getting appreciated in the International film festivals, the movie also faced major issues from the CBFC for its release it India.

Talking at an event of the movie, film’s producer Ekta Kapoor and film’s actors Konkana Sen Sharma and Ratna Pathak spoke their heart out against CBFC and the ban against the movie.

Talking about the middle-finger lipstick poster Ekta told at the event, “The pic does not draw the line. The film is about the women are scared to feel and we are we are shy about simple sexual fantasies.”

She added, “I don't have any issue with CBFC. I have a problem with society. It is a big issue when a woman has to prove herself every time. If she is smart woman I'd she is beautiful.”

Speaking about the controversial poster, she told it is for the society, it is about ideology and it is a patriarchy.

Talking on the previous ban on the movie, Konkana, who will be seen in a prominent role in the movie told, “We don't have right the way man do. They are aggressive not only in India but around the world. It's time for a woman to own their sexuality.

Talking on the same lines, actress Ratna Pathak told, “It would be premature to call it or label it with movement as labels are hard to live with. The film is extremely sensitive and I enjoyed the film.”

Lipstick Under My Burkha's new poster was out lately and it went instantly viral on the internet. The poster has a woman raising her middle finger and it is said to be a subtle dig at the CBFC, who had earlier refused to certify the movie terming it to be 'too lady oriented'. However, the film was then allowed to release after the Tribunal asked them to.

The official trailer of the controversial film, Lipstick Under My Burkha, is finally out. The film is slated to release on July 21, 2017.

Lipstick Under My Burkha’s Trailer with leading ladies star cast!

The official trailer of the controversial film, Lipstick Under My Burkha, is finally out. Starring Konkona Sensharma, Ratna Pathak Shah, Aahana Kumra, Plabita Borthakur, Sushant Singh, Vikrant Massey and Shashank Arora, the film is scheduled to release on July 21, 2017.

"Lady-oriented" - that is what the Censor Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) called it while refusing to certify the film earlier. But, they were forced to certify it after the makers moved to the Tribunal.

Well, this 'lady-oriented' movie's official trailer is now out and it debunks numerous myths related to female sexual fantasies. It is a tight slap on our patriarchy-driven society which slut-shames a woman for having sexual desires and secret fantasies. 

The film is about four women who are leading four separate battles for their freedom. In the trailer, we see the characters pose some uncomfortable yet poignant questions to the society.

"Aap Humari [women] azadi se itna darte kyun hai? [Why are you [society] so scared of our freedom?]," asks Plabita Borthakur. She further questions why is a woman being oppressed for decades now and not given the same respect and freedom to express like the other gender? The question which has been bothering us all for decades now!

A few scenes from the film are so hard-hitting and raw that it might even make people uncomfortable.

Konkona plays the role of an oppressed housewife and a mother of three. She lives the alternate life of an enterprising saleswoman. Ratna is seen as a 55-year-old widow who rediscovers her sexuality by indulging into sex talks.

Plabita will be seen as a college girl who struggles with the issues of cultural identity and also has aspirations to become a pop singer. Whereas Aahana, a young beautician wishes to elope with her lover and wants to escape the claustrophobia of her small town. Lipstick Under My Burkha is directed by Alankrita Shrivastava and produced by Prakash Jha.

We love to show our middle finger at anyone who champions sobriety, says Pahlaj Nihalani!

Lipstick Under My Burkha's new poster was out lately and it went immediately viral on the internet. The poster has a woman raising her middle finger and it is said to be a subtle dig at the CBFC, who had previously declined to certify the movie terming it to be 'too lady oriented'. But, the movie was then allowed to release after the Tribunal asked them to.

Replying to this, the Central Board of Film Certification Chief Pahlaj Nihalani told, "We’ve taken note of the poster. Showing the middle finger is impolite in any society. And it should be discouraged. I don’t think disapproving of this obscene gesture would be considered primitive or regressive in any society, except maybe in ours. We love to show our middle finger at anyone who champions sobriety and grace in our conduct.”

When questioned how does he deal with this he told, “Firstly I don’t think the finger is meant for us. It is meant for the public, for the aam junta who are bound to reject films that parade a fake social relevance in the name of women’s empowerment. You can’t empower women by making them wear lipstick . First give them basic rights, build toilets in every Indian home so that women don’t have to be publicly humiliated every day, then talk about showing the middle finger to the conservative elements whether it is the censor board or anyone else.”

“Secondly, film posters do not fall under the CBFC’s jurisdiction. They are supposed to be monitored and restrained by Film Associations. The CBFC doesn’t allow the middle finger gesture in any medium. Maybe our film associations who have allowed this poster are playing the pseudo-liberal card to appear fashionable. We at the CBFC would rather do our jobs honestly than compete for the honour of being cool and trendy,” he further added.

Further, he also added that he remains unfazed by all this tactics. “If it pleases the liberals and the feminists to abuse the CBFC, please go ahead. Have your fun. As long as I am here, I’ll do my job,” he ended conversation.

No films should be banned at all, says Konkona Sen Sharma!

Bollywood star Konkona Sen Sharma is disappointed with the decision of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to deny a certificate to her movie "Lipstick Under My Burkha".

She feels the CBFC should just give a certificate, and not ban movies at all.

"I am really fed up of the fact that these kinds of films are banned and so many other kinds of films are not. No films should be banned at all," Konkona told. 

The movie, also starring Ratna Pathak Shah, chronicles the secret lives of four women of different ages in a small town in India as they search for different kinds of freedom.

"Lipstick Under My Burkha" has been deemed too "lady oriented" in content and according to the censor board, it is laced with sexual scenes and abusive words.

Konkona further added, "I think the CBFC should just give a certificate. It's important that we watch all kinds of films and it's important that we watch films where women talk about themselves."

The actress talked about the movie on show "March on Women", which will air on CNN-News18 on Saturday. 

"Lipstick Under My Burkha" won a Gender Equality Award at the Mumbai Film Festival last year and recently won the Audience Award at the Glasgow Film Festival.

Farhan Akhtar opens up about Lipstick Under My Burkha being denied certification by CBFC!

Prakash Jha's new production Lipstick Under My Burkha's trailer was uncovered last year and it was loved critically by many. The female oriented movie stars Konkona Sen Sharma, Ratna Pathak Shah, Aahana Kumra and Plabita Borthakur.

The movie talks about the lives of four women who live a secret life to attain freedom from their usual life. The film is directed by Alankrita Shrivastava and was sent to CBFC for certification last month. 

But they refused to certify stating that it's a female oriented movie. The notice specified, "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, hence film refused under guidelines 1(a), 2(vii), 2(ix), 2(x), 2(xi), 2(xii) and 3(i)."

When a famous magazine asked Prakash about it, he specified, "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 Burkhaperhaps does and I believe our audience deserve to watch it."

Whereas Alankrita told, "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."

Now, numerous Bollywood celebrities took to their Twitter pages and expressed their disappointment over this decision of CBFC.

Farhan Akhtar posted the CBFC notice and tweeted about it telling, "Below is the reason CBFC listed for denying #LipstickUnderMyBurkha a release. Keep your barf bag ready.."

This is not the first time CBFC has refused to certify a film. Previously, the Nawazuddin Siddiqui starrer Haraamkhor which dealt with the teacher-student relationship was refused by CBFC. But, was ultimately passed by the FCAT.