With ‘Diversity’ being the central theme of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2017, the noted fest is all set to open with Alankrita Shrivastava’s much talked about film, Lipstick Under My Burkha. This year, the festival, which earned the Melbourne Award in 2016, is all set to screen 60 films in 20 languages, which have been carefully curated in sync with the central theme.

Ratna Pathak Shah in Lipstick Under My Burkha

Ratna Pathak Shah in Lipstick Under My Burkha

The festival kicks off on August 10 with the Opening Night film that boasts of a stellar star including talent powerhouses, Konkona Sensharma and Ratna Pathak, alongwith Aahana Kumra and Plabita Borthakur. The film earned rave reviews globally, but was stuck amidst a controversy with the Indian Censor Board which wanted to ban the film in India. After a long struggle, the film won and was cleared for release, winning over the system to finally bring this much acclaimed film to theatres in India.

Alankrita Srivastava and Konkana Sensharma will be attending the festival and will speak about how they pulled off this master stroke!

Alankrita Shrivastava - Pandolin.com

Alankrita Shrivastava

On being the opening film, Director Alankrita Shrivastava expressed her joy saying, “It is a great honour that Lipstick Under My Burkha will be opening the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. While the film has travelled to many parts of the world, it will be screened in Australia for the first time. I am really looking forward to the reaction of the Australian audience. Breaking through the cacophony of mainstream Indian cinema, it is wonderful that there is an Australian film festival that highlights independent Indian cinematic voices. Independent films are telling important stories, challenging the status quo and are important artistic expressions. I’m delighted to participate in the festival with Lipstick Under My Burkha.”