CBFC member Ashoke Pandit condemns decision of denying certification to Prakash Jha’s Lipstick Under My Burkha

Ashoke Pandit, a member of the CBFC, has slammed the board after it denied certification to acclaimed film Lipstick Under My Burkha

By: Fukres |
February 24, 2017 11:43 am

The Central Board of Film Certification has received ire once again after it refused certification to Lipstick Under My Burkha. The film earned many accolades at the film festivals but the treatment CBFC gave the film was quite ironic. Now one of CBFC’s member has slammed the board for such a decision. Talking to media, Ashoke Pandit said he condemned the decision and it only showed CBFC’s arrogance.

Lipstick Under My Burkha, which is produced by Prakash Jha and directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, stars renowned actors like Konkana Sen Sharma and Ratna Pathak Shah. While denying the certification, CBFC told producer Prakash Jha in a letter that the film divulged into sexual fantasies of women hence it didn’t set a good example.

The letter read, “The story is lady oriented, their fantasy about life. There are continuous sexual scenes, abusive words, audio pornography and a bit sensitive touch about one particular section of society, hence film refused.”

Taken aback after this decision, Alankrita said, “I am not defeated, disheartened or disillusioned by the CBFC’s refusal to certify ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha.’ I am more determined than ever before to ensure that ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ can be watched by Indian audiences.”

Also read: Award winning film Lipstick Under My Burkha denied certification by CBFC for a bizarre reason

“I will fight this out till the very end, and do whatever it takes because this is not about my film. The real issue is the systematic suppression of women’s voices and the throttling of freedom of expression,” added Shrivastava.

I condemn decision of CBFC not allowing Prakash Jha’s ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ &arrogantly refusing to give cert:Ashoke Pandit,CBFC member pic.twitter.com/hCXHtIJCaV

— ANI (@ANI_news) February 24, 2017

This decision by CBFC did not go down well with many members of the film fraternity, obviously. Actors Farhan Akhtar and Swara Bhaskar took to Twitter to express their disagreement over this and said the CBFC needed to grow up. We wonder what the board’s chief Pahlaj Nihalani has to say about this.

Below is the reason CBFC listed for denying #LipstickUnderMyBurkha a release. Keep your barf bag ready.. pic.twitter.com/NFO42sRJIb

— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) February 23, 2017

#CBFC #CensorBoard at it again.. So much 4 celebrating women oriented cinema! The Censor Board not ok with women fantasizing! https://t.co/rFFyHM8gCc

— Anaarkali Aarahwaali (@ReallySwara) February 23, 2017