Why You Should not Watch “Lipstick Under My Burkha”?

Since past years, Bollywood has been producing some of the most entertaining movies. However, most of the movies had similar topics and narrative lines that were repacked and represented to us. Read for more movie review...

Many blockbusters were either a remake from South Indian movie or a Hollywood movie as if the industry has lost its creativity. In fact, the fans are craving to watch some completely new contents from their beloved film industry.

Then there enters a movie that promises a completely different concept with almost everything new to watch. At least, the promos, trailers, and even the name portray so. Well, I am talking about the movie – Lipstick Under My Burkha.

The movie has attracted the controversies even before its release. Well, it has surely helped it in gaining some free publicity and promotions. Initially, it got even banned because it was lady-oriented. This argument is clearly a nonsensical one. Why can we have male-oriented movies but not a lady-oriented movie? Why movies like Grand Masti and Kya super cool hai hum is not sexually provoking while a movie demonstrating women condition is taken as a sexual provocation? Well, the good thing happened is after a fierce battle with the Censor board, this film got its way for release.

As the name suggests, the movie seems to be about Muslim women. On the contrary, it is about the desires of oppressed women from both the major communities of Hindu and Muslims portrayed beautifully by Alankrita Shrivastava. It doesn’t target any religion and has nothing to be called as communal. Undoubtedly, it is a bold movie from Aditya Chopra. But his Befikre was bold as well, but neither it scored much on box office nor the theme was balanced properly. As a result, it failed to appease the audience and was a flop. The star cast of Lipstick under my Burkha includes four lead actresses in the movie played by Ratna Pathak Shah, Konkona Sen Sharma, Aahana Kumra and Plabita Borthakur.

The movie has been successful to bring its essence and to match the expectations. Yes, you read it right. It is worthy enough to invest your money and time on this movie. The actual movie is far better than the promotional videos and the eye candy advertisements. In fact, it truly depicts lower-middle class women.

Based on my experience and viewpoints, here are the top five reasons why you should not watch Lipstick under my burkha?

Because you don’t want to watch a feminist movie that advocates gender equality and women empowerment. 

The promotional videos might have given you a glimpse of feminism. It is not an ordinary movie that uses women as nothing more than a show piece. In fact, the entire movie depicts a realistic story of women. However, you wouldn’t find women going out and protesting for their rights or delivering an outstanding performance in different fields. In fact, you will find them living a dual life in the movie. It shows that the hard working lower-middle class women are also a human being. They too have desires by describing their hidden sexual fantasy. A woman is also a human being. Obviously, they would have sexual desires and fantasies until a certain age. It demonstrated all this without hurting the dignity of women.

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In a scene, the movie demonstrates the women bonding by displaying a chat conversation where the four women are passing a cigarette. In another scene, girls are shown trying their hands-on cigarette for the first time. Well, they are supporting the notion of feminism by questioning that just like boys, they can enjoy cosy moments with friends as well. There is no need for judging them. Shrivastava and her team focused on demonstrating the grave issues regarding feminism and end with such a profound, orthodox representation of a centuries-old struggle for equality. The present struggle for gender equality is something near to it.

In the past, Dangal, Mary Kom, and some other Bollywood movies have also well displayed the idea of feminism. However, this movie intends to showcase this idea in a completely different way.

Because you are an entertainment freak who doesn’t watch movies close to reality...

If you watch movies for the sole purpose of entertaining yourself, then this movie may disappoint you. But we previously have lots of entertaining movies. We don’t have any movie to watch on such a rare topic of the society.

Because you are not looking for an adult comedy movie that will make you laugh till your stomach hurts...

If you are searching for some strong sex comedy movies to laugh your heads off, like the way you did while watching Masti, Grand Masti, Kya cool hai hum, and Garam Masala, then this movie is not going to disappoint you. As it claims, it is a comedy movie with strong punches and jokes. There are some good comedy scenes of seasoned actresses Ratna Pathak Shah and Konkona Sen Sharma. You can even have a glimpse of it by watching clips from video streaming websites.

Because you want to stick with movies with traditional movies that revolves around a male character...

Unlike other movies, this bold movie doesn’t revolve around a male character. Also, it is not using women as a show piece or displaying women as a puppet of a male character. It is not an action-packed or an entertaining movie. It has a completely different concept. Movies based on this kind of concept is very rare. It can act as an eye-opener towards the condition of women.

Because you don’t want to watch a strong and appealing storyline...

Coming to the story of the movie, it revolves around four women.

A Muslim woman, Shirin played by Konkona Sen Sharma works as a salesman. Her motto of life is to satisfy her selfish sexual lust. Leela played by Aahana Kumra has a boyfriend with whom she enjoys sex. She also plans to escape her arranged marriage. Rehana played Plabita Borthakur wants to become a pop star but has conservative parents. Usha Parma played by Ratna Pathak Shah is a 55-year-old woman who reads dirty fiction. Later, she falls for a swimming instructor and had steamy phone sex with him.

There are male characters as well that are unsympathetic and dominating. It displays the stereotype of men according to the feminist notion. The storyline is engaging.

The Final Verdict:

I would rate it as 4.5 stars out of 5. Surely, it has covered the hidden issues regarding the oppression of women that don't get attention. I wouldn’t recommend watching it if you are looking for a typical movie goes around idolizing a male character, uses women just a showpiece and is nowhere near to reality. I would strongly recommend watching it if you want to belly laugh and watch something close to reality about women.