Feminism Makes CBFC Uncomfortable! Says 'Lipstick Under My Burkha' Director Alankrita Shrivastava
Lipstick Under My Burkha controversy! Director Alankrita Shrivastava says the CBFC is uncomfortable with feminism and has no respect for women's rights.
The
CBFC
had
refused
to
certify
Lipstick
Under
My
Burkha
citing
the
film
as
"lady
oriented" and
called
it
"pornographic"
despite
the
movie
being
well
appreciated
at
many
film
festivals
across
the
world.
The
director
Alankrita
Shrivastava
lashed
out
against
the
Censor
Board
by
saying
that
feminism
and
women
taking
charge
of
their
own
sexuality
makes
them
uncomfortable.
She
said,
"I
feel
they
(CBFC)
have
been
honest
in
stating
that
feminism
makes
them
uncomfortable,
the
female
point
of
view,
the
female
gaze
makes
them
uncomfortable.
They
have
just
stated
this
clearly.
What
is
making
them
uncomfortable
is
that
women
feel
that
they
are
not
fulfilled
in
these
conventional
relationships.
That
threatens
the
patriarchal
order
of
society.
It's
not
the
sexual
content
which
is
bothering
them,
it
is
the
fact
of
women
claiming
agency
over
their
own
sexuality."
She
further
commented
that
the
CBFC
has
waged
a
direct
assault
on
women's
rights
with
their
decision
and
harsh
words.
She
said,
"What
is
very
scary
is
that
this
is
a
legitimate
body,
responsible
for
certifying
films,
in
the
sense
of
being
moral
guardians
for
the
Indian
audience,
for
them
to
so
brazenly
make
a
statement,
which
is
a
direct
assault
on
the
rights
of
women
to
express
themselves,
is
scary."
The
CBFC
also
called
the
film
"pornographic"
and
Alankrita
confirmed
that
her
film
has
no
nudity
in
any
form.
She
said,
"There
is
no
nudity
in
the
film.
Refusing
to
certify
the
film
by
blaming
sexual
content
is
telling.
They
have
certified
so
many
films
which
have
sexual
content.
The
camera
in
item
numbers
mindlessly
goes
up
and
down
a
woman's
body
with
crass
lyrics
which
have
no
connection
with
the
story.
But
if
there's
that
kind
of
cinema,
there
should
be
an
even
playing
field."