Amid Golden Globe hopes, 'Lipstick Under My Burkha' director happy for more reasons than one

It is a moment of celebration indeed for Alankrita Shrivastava, director of Lipstick Under My Burkha. Though the future of the film in India still remains uncertain, it has become eligible for the esteemed Golden Globe Awards. Just last week, her film was screened on the opening night of Los Angeles' Indian Film Festival, and her film is also set to open the New York Indian Film Festival.

Talking about the honour, she told News18,

“This was really unexpected to me. This is a big leap for me and my team."

Alankrita’s film was recently denied certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). While talking about the struggle to get the film certified in India, she told The Huffington Post,

“I am trying to get a censor certificate, so that the film can release in theatres. I'm fighting to legitimise the existence of my film. A film without a censor certificate is much like a child without a birth certificate. It was an unfair decision to refuse certification to Lipstick Under My Burkha. I'm currently in the process of appealing to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) for the reversal of the CBFC decision. I am hopeful that something positive will emerge”.

The story that revolves around four women who are trying to explore the idea of freedom in India was denied a certificate for being “female-oriented” and for using “abusive words.” In spite of being denied certification, the film has won awards in India too including at the Mumbai Film Festival for “Best Film on Gender Equality”.

Films based on the theme of sexuality including Parched, Bissa, and Fire were not denied certification, so it came as a huge surprise to Alankrita when her film was denied certification. But she isn’t dejected because she has been gaining support from people all over and she also added,

 "Film is serving the larger purpose of starting conversations and debate about the perpetuation of patriarchy through popular culture and the freedom of expression of women. As educated citizens of India, we must question why alternative points of view in cinema should be silenced. In 2017 we have an archaic system of censorship. Why are we continuing to live with it?"

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