Expectations

Women oriented films have been an integral part of our Hindi film industry since the silent era. With changing times the issues catered into these movies kept changing. The genre itself has massively grown from saas bahu issues to women empowerment and more.

Films based on these topics have always managed to create right noise and 'Lipstick Under My Burkha' is one such film which is in news since its first trail show followed by the censorship issues. The trailer is quite bold enough to raise the expectation level for such a small and niche based film.

Story

'Lipstick Under My Burkha' deals with an elderly widow Usha (Ratna Pathak Shah), a young college girl Rihana (Plabita Borthakur), a beautician Leela (Aahana Kumra) and a middle aged housewife Shireen (Konkana Sen Sharma). All of them lead an alternate life hidden from the society parameters. Rihana is a burkha clad girl who works in her father's burkha shop, but leads a rebellious life in her college. Usha is a widow, who wants to set herself free from the religious activity and fulfil her sexual desires of reading erotic novels and a mysterious romance with her swimming coach. Shireen is a middle aged housewife who leads a secret life of a top saleswoman as her husband Rahim (Sushant Singh) is of a staunch orthodox mindset. Leela (Aahana Kumra) is confused between her boyfriend and to be husband as all she wants is to get away from her crunched life. All the main protagonist are connected through Usha's erotic novels and its lead character of Rosy.

The 'Glitz' Factor

The story is interesting, intriguing as well as quite bold at times. The first half of the film is totally gripping as well as engaging.

There are many fantastic scenes which keeps you glued to the silver screen. The silent layer of regressive mindset keeps flowing along with these scenes. The dialogues are fantastic along with all the different characters.

The cinematography  is of top notch and has presented the movie in a totally stylish manner. The background score enhances the screenplay and goes perfectly with the flow of the film.

Director Alankrita Shrivastava takes us into the dark world of four women trapped inside the barriers of prejudice society and displays it in totally entertaining as well as engaging manner. The usage of sexual baritone makes the narrative highly interesting. It's a daringly bold direction for this young filmmaker who displays a promising future.

Ratna Pathak Shah is amazingly fantastic in this movie. Konkana Sen Sharma is great in her role. Aahana Kumra shows a fine potential of a good actor. Plabita Borthakur is the face of the movie. Sushant Singh, Vikrant Massey, Jagat Singh Solanki and others lend superb support.

The 'Non-Glitz' Factor

The middle portions starts to mildly drag in certain scenes, but keeps the momentum intact. The only problem with this movie is that it keeps losing its grip in the middle portions of the film.

The finale track for some of the characters is cluttered as well as half-baked. The ending might dissatisfy some of the viewers as it could have been slightly better. Some of the tracks after a great start ends up below expectations.

Shashank Arora was average. Plabita Borthakur track needed more finesse into it.

Final 'Glitz'

'Lipstick Under My Burkha' displays the bold shade of feminism in an engaging as well as entertaining manner.