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Exploring feminism through film with Lipstick Under My Burkha

One of the most powerful things about the medium of film is that it is an immersive, multisensory means of exploration. Whether it be about feelings, political themes or figuring out different cultures, movies have been an incredible means of storytelling and putting you in a place or situation.

The Daily Morning Brunch recently attended a screening of Lipstick Under my Burkha, a Hindi film directed by Alankrita Shrivastava. Released in 2017, the film tells the stories of four women living in Bhopal. Although the four women are different in age, background and personality, they share one important thing: they want the freedom to make their own choices. The main characters are Usha, Shireen, Leela, and Rehana. Each woman has dreams and desires that she cannot easily express because of the rules created by family and society.

The film deals with important subjects such as women's freedom, marriage, love, sexuality, family pressure, and personal identity. It shows the difference between how women are expected to behave and what they actually want from life. The title itself is meaningful. "Lipstick" represents freedom, confidence, and personal desire, while the "burkha" represents the restrictions placed on women by society.

The film is not only about the problems faced by women. It is also about their courage to dream and search for happiness. Through the lives of its four characters, the movie asks viewers to think about whether people should be free to make decisions about their own lives.

The screening was held on the 23 September by Safe Space Screenings at The Fearless Space.