The title is not just a marketing gimmick. The burkha is a metaphor for the many veils women wear — of obedience, of modesty, of "good girl" behavior. The lipstick is the small, revolutionary act of self-pleasure, identity, and rebellion. To wear lipstick under the burkha is to claim an inner life that no external force can control. It is the secret smile of a woman who knows what she wants.
Lipstick Under My Burkha (2017), directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, is a bold, female-centric Indian film that challenges social taboos and patriarchal norms through the interwoven stories of four women in a small-town setting. Combining dark humor, realism, and unapologetic sensuality, the film foregrounds female desire, agency, and resistance against oppressive cultural structures. lipstick under my burkha 2017 bluray hindi 720p fixed
The film follows four protagonists:
Their lives intersect thematically rather than narratively; the film uses parallel storytelling to reveal how different ages, classes, and backgrounds shape each woman's confrontation with gendered oppression. The narrative culminates in both tragic and empowering moments, refusing easy resolutions while insisting on the legitimacy of the characters' desires. The title is not just a marketing gimmick
When the film finally released, critics were unanimous in their praise. The performances, particularly by Ratna Pathak Shah, were hailed as career-defining. Pathak Shah’s Buaji is a revelation — she brings depth, humor, and heartbreaking vulnerability to a character who could have been a caricature. particularly by Ratna Pathak Shah
The film’s strength lies in its tone. It is not a bleak art-house tragedy. It is funny, vibrant, and deeply relatable. The director uses melodrama, music, and moments of genuine comedy to make the medicine go down easily. Yet, the ending is brutally realistic: not everyone escapes. Not every desire is fulfilled. Buaji’s final scene, where she is rejected and mocked, is one of the most devastatingly honest portrayals of ageism and sexism in cinema.