Released globally after a historic legal battle, the film is set in the crowded, conservative lanes of old Bhopal, India. It completely abandons the conventional, male-dominated tropes of popular Bollywood cinema, choosing instead to follow the overlapping, secret lives of four ordinary women spanning different generations: The Four Protagonists
Despite these challenges, the women in the documentary show remarkable resilience and courage. They find ways to adapt and survive, often through secret means, such as: under my burkha
The phrase stands as one of the most culturally significant milestones in contemporary Indian cinema. Originally the title of a controversial, award-winning film directed by Alankrita Shrivastava and produced by Prakash Jha, the phrase has evolved into a global metaphor for female agency, hidden desires, and the subversion of patriarchal structures. By juxtaposing "lipstick"—a universal symbol of cosmetics, personal expression, and liberation—with the "burkha"—a traditional garment representing religious modesty and, metaphorically, societal confinement—the title encapsulates the dual lives that millions of women lead in conservative spaces. 🎬 The Film and Its Narrative Structure Released globally after a historic legal battle, the
The secret life of four women seeking freedom is exhibited in the Lipstick Under my. Burkha lm. All women are crippled and trappe... ResearchGate Show all Rehana Abidi (Plabita Borthakur): A college student from an orthodox family who secretly wears western clothes, shoplifts lipsticks, and dreams of becoming a pop singer. Shirin Aslam (Konkona Sen Sharma): A successful door-to-door saleswoman who hides her career from her controlling husband, who subjects her to marital rape. Leela (Aahana Kumra): A beautician seeking independence and sexual fulfillment with her lover while facing an arranged marriage pushed by her mother. Usha "Buaji" Parmar (Ratna Pathak Shah): A 55-year-old widow who rediscovers her own sexuality through erotic novels and a phone romance with a younger swim coach. Controversy and Censorship The film gained significant international attention after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) initially refused to certify it for release. The board's controversial reasoning stated that the film was "lady-oriented" and featured "fantasies above life". Following an appeal and widespread public outcry, the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) eventually cleared the film for release with minor cuts. Core Themes Female Solidarity Originally the title of a controversial, award-winning film
This refusal inadvertently proved the film’s central thesis. The censor board’s discomfort with the lady oriented perspective highlighted exactly how threatening female desire is to the status quo. The controversy sparked a national debate on censorship and misogyny, eventually leading to the film’s release after an appeal to the FCAT (Film Certification Appellate Tribunal).
The night, however, belongs to them. It is in the darkness that their "secret selves" emerge. The film argues that for these women, freedom is nocturnal. They can only be themselves when the watchful eyes of society are asleep. This segregation of self creates a profound psychological toll, leading to a climax that is as inevitable as it is explosive.