Lipstick Under My Burkha, a critically acclaimed film, directed by Alankrita Shrivastava and produced by Prakash Jha received the first ever OXFAM award for the best film on gender equality.
Lipstick Under My Burkha had its world premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival, 2016 and it’s India premiere at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival on October 26.
Overwhelmed by the positive reviews and gestures she received after her film’s screening at both the film festivals, director Alankrita said,
“There could not have been a more befitting award for this film. The importance of the female gaze in telling a story is finally being recognized. I am truly honoured.”
Talking about her experience at the Tokyo International Film Festival, she said “We have had an amazing response from the audiences here. Women in Tokyo are coming up to us in metro stations and restaurants, hugging us and telling us how much they loved the film.“
While presenting the award, Rahul Bose, brand ambassador of OXFAM praised the film for its cinematic excellence and said,
“The jury was delighted to watch a film that takes on marital rape, religious orthodoxy, the sexuality of an older woman, women taking agency over their own bodies, expressing and acting on their lust, with effervescence, humour and integrity, while never leaving you in any doubt about the ferocity of it’s intent…Lipstick Under My Burkha uncovers the colour, verve and attractiveness that it’s title interestingly suggests.“
While Alankrita was attending the screening at Tokyo International Film Festival along with actors- Plabita Borthakur, Aahana Kumra, the Jio MAMI film screening was attended by Konkona Sensharma, Ratna Pathak Shah, Sushant Singh, Vikrant Massey, Vaibhav Tatwawdi and producer Prakash Jha.
The film will screen at the Cairo International Film Festivaon November 20.
Watch the trailer: