Lipstick under My Burkha poster: Middle finger for the CBFC? Pahlaj Nihalani hits back

CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani feels that the middle finger on the poster of the upcoming film Lipstick Under My Burkha is not meant for the Censor Board.

A curious new poster for the much talked about Lipstick Under My Burkha has a woman raising her middle finger to the sky. The somewhat unexpected gesture of defiance seems to be targeted at the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC), which refused to certify the film for release until it was “asked” to do so by the Tribunal.

CBFC chaiperson Pahlaj Nihalani talks about upcoming film Lipstick Under My Burkha’s poster.

CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani is unfazed by the poster’s insinuated insult. “We’ve taken note of the poster. Showing the middle finger is impolite in any society. And it should be discouraged. I don’t think disapproving of this obscene gesture would be considered primitive or regressive in any society, except maybe in ours. We love to show our middle finger at anyone who champions sobriety and grace in our conduct.”

Lipstick Under My Burkha will release on July 21, 2017.

So how does the CBFC intend to tackle this menace? Nihalani says, “Firstly I don’t think the finger is meant for us. It is meant for the public, for the aam junta who are bound to reject films that parade a fake social relevance in the name of women’s empowerment.You can’t empower women by making them wear lipstick . First give them basic rights, build toilets in every Indian home so that women don’t have to be publicly humiliated every day, then talk about showing the middle finger to the conservative elements whether it is the censor board or anyone else.”

“Secondly , film posters do not fall under the CBFC’s jurisdiction. They are supposed to be monitored and restrained by Film Associations. The CBFC doesn’t allow the middle finger gesture in any medium. Maybe our film associations who have allowed this poster are playing the pseudo-liberal card to appear fashionable. We at the CBFC would rather do our jobs honestly than compete for the honour of being cool and trendy,” he adds.

Nihalani says that he is fine with being shown the finger. “If it pleases the liberals and the feminists to abuse the CBFC, please go ahead. Have your fun. As long as I am here, I’ll do my job.”