Censors slammed over Lipstick movie

Bollywood filmmakers and artistes on Friday condemned the move of the Censor Board for not giving certificate to Prakash Jha’s Lipstick under my Burkha for being what it feels is ‘lady-oriented.’

Celebrities took to Twitter and asked Jha, a veteran of the industry who had given hits like Gangajal, Aparahan, Rajneeti, not to buckle under pressure.

“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,” reads the CBFC note on reasons for ‘certificate refused’ to the film.

CBFC Chairman Pahlaj Nihalani, who has been on the line of fire of the film industry, has refused to comment on the issue in detail.

“We have given a notice. They (producers) may go anywhere, the court, our Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT),” he said.

CBFC member Mamta Kale said: “I have seen the script. Picturisation is different from the theme and abusive language is used. It has gone on a different track.”

Besides Konkona Sen Sharma and Ratna Pathak, Lipstick Under My Burkha also features Aahana Kumra, Plabita Borthakur, Sushant Singh, Vikrant Massey and Shashank Arora. Directed by Alankrita Shrivastava and produced by Prakash Jha, the film has four female leads. The story set in a city revolves around four women — a  burqa-clad college girl, a young beautician, a mother of three and a 55-year-old widow who rediscovers her sexuality.

“I condemn the decision of CBFC not allowing Prakash Jha’s Lipstick Under My Burkha nd arrogantly refusing to give certificate,” said Ashoke Pandit, the president, Indian Film and Television Directors Association.

“This onslaught on maker has broken confidence of a maker. The film industry is under a threat of this attitude of Pahlaj Nihalani,” he said.

“I don’t understand what 'lady-oriented' means, it's not an accepted phrase," said Kankona Sen Sharma.

“And I thought the Govt was moving away from censorship to certification! Not certifying is worse than censoring,” tweeted writer and politician Shashi Tharoor.

“It is gender politics at play," said Alankrita Sharma. Sushant Singh, who plays a role in the film, was critical of the move of the Censor Board. “Now a days, we are heading towards a system when we submit a script an agency, which publishes it in a newspaper and invite comments whether it is hurts anyone's sensitivities or community," he said.