Overview
Four women navigate the complexities of desire and freedom in a conservative society.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- irreverent
- rebellious
- feminist film night
- arthouse movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a bold, witty, and emotionally resonant feminist ensemble drama confronting patriarchy and female sexuality.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Four women pursue intimacy, ambition, sexuality, and independence despite family, religious, and social controls.
Leela, Usha, Rehana, and Shireen’s storylines unfold in parallel and illuminate different forms of confinement.
The film turns restrictive gender roles, hypocrisy, and community surveillance into targets of sharp social comedy.
The crowded by-lanes and closely watched domestic spaces make secrecy and stealthy rebellion central to the women’s lives.
Films like Lipstick Under My Burkha, and why
Fire
shared feminist drama, social satire, and women resisting patriarchal control
Parched
shared female-centered rebellion, sexuality, and critique of conservative social structures
The Second Mother
shared intimate ensemble storytelling about women negotiating desire and restrictive family expectations
Movie Details
- Director
- Alankrita Shrivastava
- Release Date
- 2017-07-21
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (107)
Cast
- Aahana Kumra
- Ratna Pathak Shah
- Plabita Borthakur
- Konkona Sen Sharma
- Shashank Arora
- Vikrant Massey
- Sushant Singh
- Sonal Jha
- Mayur More
- Akash Sisodia
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video
- Buy
- Amazon Video
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Lipstick Under My Burkha about?
- Four women in a tightly policed Indian town reclaim private desire through daring, often comic acts of rebellion.
- What is Lipstick Under My Burkha like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Lipstick Under My Burkha as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Lipstick Under My Burkha violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Lipstick Under My Burkha as mild.
- What did critics think of Lipstick Under My Burkha?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a bold, witty, and emotionally resonant feminist ensemble drama confronting patriarchy and female sexuality.
- Which films are like Lipstick Under My Burkha?
- Films with a similar feel include Fire, Parched, and The Second Mother.
- How long is Lipstick Under My Burkha?
- Lipstick Under My Burkha runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch Lipstick Under My Burkha?
- In United States, Lipstick Under My Burkha is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video.
