Lipstick Under My Burkha

A poor script where all the good actors are wasted. There was a good thought running regarding this theme but didn't come well at all. Storyline Rating: 2 Acting Rating: 2 Aahana Kumra: 2 Ratna Pathak Shah: 2 Konkona Sen Sharma: 2 Shashank Arora: 2 Direction Rating: 2 Music Rating: 2 Cinematography: 2 Editing: 2

"Lipstick Under My Burkha" was screened at various film festivals across the world prior to its theatrical release,receiving huge accolades from renowned film critiques,making it a highly anticipated film for the moviebuffs in India and abroad.The news that the makers had to plea to the appellate authority(FCAT) for a release after getting a no from CBFC marked up the excitement surrounding the film that has finally managed to hit the silverscreen after bidding adieu to all the dark clouds spread over it. What made the censors reject the certification and to make derogatory remarks like "the story is lady-oriented,their fantasy about life" is shocking and alarming for the future of Indian movie scene that has remained heavily censured from time immemorial.Ironically,I felt the opposite that the best thing about the movie is that it could succeed in making strong statements without being offensive for a second,something that calls for a gifted writer-director like Alankrita Shrivastava.The key to narration used here is dark humor that's there in sumptuous amount for the whole of the narration. The movie focuses on the lives of four women who rebel against the social stereotypes quartered on them and the never ending contrast conflict between their dreams and the vested interests of the patriarchal society has been strikingly reproduced in the narrative without any reservations,unnecessary cinematic liberties or over- melodrama unlike many recent movies that handled the same issue(Leave aside Leena Yadavs's riveting drama feature "Parched").Th word "Burkha" in the title is used to represent the veil over feminine dreams and no way targetted at hurting the religious sentiments of the Muslim community in the country. The universal truth that the sexuality of women and their desires can never go hand-in-hand with the misogynistic pre-assumptions that's prevalent in the society has been enlightened by the movie at various situations in the narrative.In one scene we get to see a groom-to-be saying to his prospective bride that fortunately they have bought a new television set at their home so that she can be happily relaxed inside the home once they are married and in another shocker of a scene our protagonists makes a sigh that their biggest mistake is that they dream too much,an eye-opener into the plight of numerous women who are nothing but slaves inside their own homes. Even though the movie isn't heavily censured,abrupt cuts were felt at few point in the narrative which could have been taken care of while on the editing table.The conclusion of the movie was predictable and slightly weaker on comparison with the rest of the narrative.Solid performances stand as the backbone of the griping narrative and it was delight to watch all the lead-ladies perform well on the screen.The pick among the cast I felt was Konkona Sen Sharma and debutante Plabita Borthakur who both gave excellent performances in their respective roles.Ratna Patahk Sha and Aahana Kumra too were equally good and made their roles memorable.Vaibhav Tatwawaadi,Sushant Singh,Vikrant Massey etc gave good supporting performances. Music by Zebunnisa Bangash and Mangesh Dhakde was adequate for the narrative.Technical side was handled really well even though the budget of the movie was very low in comparison with other biggies from Bollywood. Overall,Lipstick Under My Burkha is a daring and whole-hearted women-oriented film that's worth a watch from the cinemas at the earliest!

'Lipstick Under My Burkha' is the recent critical darling, that also rocked the box-office. Some call it shocking, some scandalous, some brave, some path-breaking. BUT for me, personally speaking, this one's a letdown! Slow & Tiring, this women-centric film boasts fine performances, but in terms of narrative, it fails to engage! Set in the crowded by-lanes of small town India, 'Lipstick Under My Burkha' chronicles the secret lives of four women in search of a little freedom. Though stifled and trapped in their worlds, these four women claim their desires through small acts of courage and stealthy rebellion. 'Lipstick Under My Burkha' isn't a pro feminist film. Sure, its about women exploring their inner needs in a small town filled with repulsively sexist men dominating them, but it doesn't do much for Women in the end. I am a city boy, but I sense how it must feel to be these women in small towns. And that's why this film has done the business it has, because the connect value must be immense. But, the narrative is monotonous & overlong. At nearly 2 hours, I found myself bored for the most bit. The 4 women have interesting dynamics & troubles to deal with it, but none engage all through. The film falls apart in the second-hour & the culmination is unconvincing. The first-hour has a few winning moments, but nothing stands out in particular. Its the performances that take the cake! Konkona Sen Sharma, Ratna Pathak Shah, Aahana Kumra and Plabita Borthakur are scene-stealing good. The Ever-Terrific Ratna Pathak is heartbreakingly affecting as Bua Ji, who comes in terms with her needs in a society where an aged women is nearly alien. Konkona is equally competent as the housewife, only left to be a piece sexual pleasure by her horrifying husband. Aahana is feisty & seductive as a young-blood torn between 2 men & goes all-out in the sex-scenes. Here's a performer with genuine potential. Plabita is likable & forceful as the young soul waiting to sing & pursue her passion, despite her orthodox parents. These 4 four women give 'Lipstick Under My Burkha' the strength, that sadly the Writing Lacks. Alankrita Shrivastava, The Writer & Director, has tappings of a fearless storyteller. But over here, it only shows in sparks. Her Writing is a tiresome exercise in monotony, that doesn't go beyond its one-liner concept. Her Direction, though naturalistic, still could've been sharper. Given the hype around, I expected 'Lipstick Under My Burkha' to be a strong & engrossing film about Women in small towns of India. And while it is that, its also bland & tedious for the most part.

Four female stories are told in this film. One is of a young girl Leela, who runs beauty parlor. She wants to marry her photographer boy friend, who is from different religion. This fact gets revealed later in very casual way. Girl's mother fixes her marries with another guy. Leela is rebellious but why does she not oppose or refuse this marriage is not clear. Surprisingly she wants to run away with that photographer, whom she watched flirting with another girls. While reading all this you can feel the complex presentation although there is lot more than this. Second is a college going teenager girl Rehana. She is from typical traditional family. She wants to be a singer in band but she has shown as habitual shop lifter! One side she tries to free herself from old society rules another side she is a herself a thief! What type of character she was? Third one is a married woman Shirin. She has four kids and a heartless horny husband. She is sales woman and wants to gets promotion as sales trainer but she doesn't reveal this to her typical husband. In movie her husband is shown having affair with another girl, which was unnecessary distraction in woman story. Even she sales quirky goods. Forth one is story of a mid fifty widow lady Usha. She is established very respected lady but having guts. In her intro scene, she brushes off some persons who wants to grab her land but she reads erotica and fantasizes about another males. She fools a swimming instructor by hot talking on telephone with him with another name. Her voice over of reading erotica comes as jumps cut over any scene. This subject could have been sensitive but the way her story is presented, this tracks mocks itself and evokes laughter in emotional scenes. Few scenes are very intelligently conceived and executed like the scene when Leela goes to her photographer boyfriend and says that she wants to hire his service for her wedding. Camera flashes comes over her face while subtle changes of her emotions is very good. Her conversation with middle age woman Shirin, while waxing her is also very good. The way all four females come together in climax, is very good but after that in last shot they start smoking in the name of freedom of expression!? Performance wise Konkana Sen Sharma as Shirn is fantastic. She proves her caliber when she eats cake after being abused by her husband. Aahana Kumra as Leela is impressive. Plabita Borthakur as Rehana is good. Ratna Pathak Shah as Usha is very good. Vikrant Messay as photographer and Leela love interest is first rate.

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