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WATCH: CBFC CEO debates with Lipstick Under My Burkha director Alankrita Shrivastava

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has refused to certify filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava's Lipstick Under My Burkha. The reason for doing so, according to the CBFC, is because "The story is lady oriented, their fantasy above life. There are contanious sexual scenes, abusive words, audio pornography and a bit sensitive touch about one particular section of society, hence film refused under guidelines (sic)."

This reasoning by the CBFC has enraged filmmakers and intellectuals on and off social media for being parochial and regressive. Managing Editor Rahul Kanwal invited CBFC CEO Anurag Srivastava and filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava to debate on live television about the reasons stated by the CBFC to not certify Lipstick Under My Burkha.

When asked why it is not okay for women to fantasise on cinema if it is alright for men's fantasies to find space in films, Anurag said, "Please understand that this is not the stand of CBFC as such. This is the stand of one board member from CBFC and all others are advisory panel members who come from different sections of the society."

He added that he is okay with the CBFC's decision since it is in accordance with the board's guidelines.

In a statement made earlier, Alankrita said, "I believe the decision to refuse certification to our film is an assault on women's rights. For too long the popular narrative has perpetuated patriarchy by objectifying women or minimising their role in a narrative. So a film like 'Lipstick Under My Burkha', that challenges that dominant narrative is being attacked because it presents a female point of view. Do women not have the right of freedom of expression?"

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