No More Sweeping under the Carpet Repressed Feminine Desires and Sexuality in Lipstick Under My Burkha

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse Alankrita Shrivastava’s film Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016) in terms of its narrative technique and the handling of a sensitive topic in the context of Hélène Cixous’ The Laugh of the Medusa (1975) which introduces the concept of écriture feminine. In the process, characters, various themes, associated symbols and censorship is scrutinized to prove that the condition of every woman despite of age, sexuality, religion and social background is the same in terms of repression of desires and denied the freedom of expression. It’s only through women raising their own voices will help better the situation with women’s narratives demanding their space amongst the pool of male-dominated narratives in the popular culture. The stories now need to be narrated from the female gaze