Lipstick Under My Burkha 2017

In the midst of a small Indian neighborhood in Bhopal, a tapestry of complex lives unfolds as the narrative threads of Rosy, the protagonist of an erotic pulp fiction novel titled Lipstick Dreams, are woven together by the introspective voice of 55-year-old widow Usha Parmar. As she reads the novel with fervor, her own story, marked by nostalgia and forgotten memories, is intertwined with those of her neighbors.

Rehana Abidi, a college freshman, navigates her dual existence, sewing burkhas for her family’s store while secretly indulging in make-up and transforming into a free-spirited singer who worships Miley Cyrus. Her aspirations are mirrored by Leela, a young beautician who runs her own parlor and dreams of traveling the world with her secret lover Arshad, owner of a small photo studio. Leela’s entrepreneurial spirit is fueled by her hope to secure international travel for both herself and Arshad through lucrative destination wedding packages.

In the same neighborhood, Shireen Aslam, a burkha-clad housewife, struggles to reconcile her roles as mother to three boys and door-to-door saleswoman, forced to maintain secrecy due to her husband Rahim’s controlling nature. Her desperate attempts to prevent unwanted pregnancies are marked by emergency contraceptives and clandestine abortions.

As Rehana pursues her passion for music, she captures the attention of Dhruv, the drummer of a local band, only to be rebuffed by Namrata, the group’s lead singer. Undeterred, Rehana finds solace in expressing her views on women’s liberation during a protest against the ban on jeans. Her world is turned upside down when Namrata invites her to an exclusive weekend house party, prompting Rehana to pilfer a dress and boots from the mall.

Meanwhile, Usha orchestrates Leela’s arranged marriage with Manoj at the behest of Leela’s impoverished mother, setting in motion a chain reaction that will forever alter the lives of these women living on the fringes of society.

As Leela (character) basks in the glow of her upcoming nuptials, a sudden power outage sets the tone for an intimate encounter with Arshad. The moment is captured on film, a bold move that would have far-reaching consequences. Her mother, Usha, happens to be present and scolds Leela for sullying their reputation, but deftly covers up the incident. What’s left unsaid is that Usha herself has a secret: she moonlights as a nude model for art students, her provocative poses a far cry from her wholesome suburban persona.

Meanwhile, Usha’s days are filled with swimming lessons, where she’s unwittingly pranked by one of her young charges and nearly meets her maker in the pool. Jaspal, the swimming instructor, comes to her rescue, revealing his familiarity with her real name - a detail that leaves Usha feeling vulnerable yet intrigued. As she begins to fantasize about this enigmatic figure, she treats herself to a swimsuit and signs up for private lessons under his guidance.

Under the pseudonym “Rosy,” Usha embarks on a flirtatious phone sex escapade with Jaspal, who’s blissfully unaware that he’s conversing with her. The misadventure reaches new heights when Shireen, a fellow resident of this suburban world, receives a sobering diagnosis from her doctor: an infection in her uterus necessitates the use of condoms as a birth control method. Discreetly, she procures chocolate-flavored condoms from the pharmacy, only to face resistance from her husband Rahim, who refuses to adapt his lovemaking habits to this new reality.

As Leela’s engagement celebration gives way to Usha’s swimming lessons and Shireen’s reproductive health concerns, the boundaries between reality and fantasy begin to blur.

As Shireen navigates the complexities of her professional life, her colleague’s urging to confide in Rahim about her job prospects serves as a poignant reminder that personal and professional fulfillment often converge. Meanwhile, Rehana finds herself swept up in a whirlwind of emotions at the house party, where she becomes unexpectedly intimate with Dhruv amidst the revelry. The evening also brings the revelation that Namrata is expecting, casting a sobering pall over the festivities.

In a separate narrative thread, Leela’s tardiness to her business meeting with Arshad serves as a harbinger of trouble, as her distracted demeanor and subsequent focus on Manoj only exacerbate Arshad’s growing frustration. As she struggles to reconcile her desires with reality, Leela becomes increasingly disillusioned with the idea of a mundane domestic life, opting instead to pursue a more unconventional path with Arshad.

As Rehana’s protest against the jeans ban takes an unexpected turn, she finds herself in handcuffs alongside fellow students, but her quick thinking and resourcefulness ultimately earn her a mere warning from her rigidly religious father. The day wears on, with Leela attempting to convince Arshad of their shared desire for elopement, only to be met with a resounding rejection.

Meanwhile, Shireen’s quest for truth regarding Rahim’s infidelity leads her down a path of discovery and ultimately, a confrontation with the object of his affections. As she introduces herself as his wife to this unwitting woman, Shireen’s world is turned upside down by the revelation that Rahim has been leading a double life.

As the festival of lights approaches, Usha takes a chance on Jaspal, inviting him to join her at the community’s Diwali celebration. Rehana, too, decides to take a leap of faith and agrees to meet Dhruv at the same event, while Namrata begins her journey toward healing in the aftermath of an abortion.

In a dramatic twist of events, Leela attends the festival with Manoj, using their time together to exact revenge on Arshad by planting a kiss on Manoj at his photo booth. As Manoj departs to fetch snacks, Arshad makes a passionate declaration of love to Leela, only for her to attempt to move on and explore new possibilities with Manoj.

However, Manoj’s discovery of Leela’s sex tape with Arshad proves to be the catalyst for their engagement’s downfall, as he accuses her of infidelity and ultimately breaks off their relationship. As the festival comes to a close, Leela is left to pick up the pieces of her shattered world, forced to confront the harsh realities of her own desires and the consequences that follow.

As the police close in, Rehana’s passionate kiss with Dhruv is suddenly interrupted by the harsh reality of her impending arrest. Namrata’s timely intervention helps uncover incriminating evidence from the mall’s surveillance cameras, leaving Rehana no choice but to face the music. The revelation that Dhruv was instrumental in Namrata’s pregnancy only adds fuel to the fire, as he promptly distances himself from Rehana. Meanwhile, Namrata drops a bombshell, revealing the truth about her pregnancy, which leaves Rehana reeling. Her father’s stern words and subsequent forbidding of her from returning to college serve as a stark reminder of the societal expectations she must conform to. As her mother begins searching for potential suitors, Rehana is left feeling suffocated by the weight of her circumstances.

In a jarring juxtaposition, Shireen’s career milestone is overshadowed by Rahim’s cruel and calculating congratulations. His deplorable actions as he takes her home and exacts his twisted form of punishment serve as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of resisting his advances. As Usha begins to rediscover her youthful spark, she makes bold decisions to reinvigorate herself, from donning sleeveless attire to undergoing a dramatic hair transformation. With Leela’s help, Usha’s newfound confidence is palpable as she gazes at her reflection and longs to reconnect with Jaspal. However, her plans are derailed when Jaspal becomes disillusioned after Komal rejects his advances in public, leading him to mistakenly identify Usha as “Rosy” - the author of a provocative novel. A devastating confrontation ensues as Jaspal accuses Usha’s family members of enabling her perceived moral transgressions, resulting in a humiliating display as they publicly shame her and discard her belongings.

As Rehana, Leela, and Shireen rally around Usha to gather her discarded belongings from the street, the four women find solace in their collective struggles. Amidst the shared pain and frustration, they share a cigarette, momentarily finding comfort in each other’s company as they yearn for liberation from the suffocating expectations that have defined their lives.