Unveiling Women's Sexuality and Desire in Indian Cinema: A Study of Parched and Lipstick Under My Burkha

Abstract

This dissertation, titled Unveiling Women’s Sexuality and Desire in Indian Cinema: A Study of Parched and Lipstick Under My Burkha, explores the silence and repression surrounding women’s sexual desire in Indian culture. While much research has already examined women’s empowerment in political, social, and economic contexts, the subject of women’s pleasure continues to be overlooked. In Indian society, it is widely accepted when men express their desires, but women who speak about their own sexuality are often shamed, censored, or punished. This unequal treatment highlights how pleasure remains a taboo for women, even in a modern and supposedly progressive society. To address this issue, the dissertation studies two powerful Indian films, Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016) and Parched (2015). Both films present women as desiring subjects who seek intimacy, independence, and fulfillment. In Lipstick Under My Burkha, four women from different backgrounds attempt to pursue their sexual freedom but are met with ridicule, restrictions, and moral policing. The film itself was banned by the Central Board of Film Certification for being “lady-oriented,” which shows how society resists women-centered narratives of desire. Similarly, Parched portrays rural women in Gujarat who struggle against patriarchal customs that deny them the right to speak openly about their needs. Although the women in the film form bonds of support and dream of freedom, their desires are constantly silenced by traditions and social shame. This research highlights that despite globalization and modernization, Indian women’s sexuality is still censored, repressed, and treated as dangerous. Using feminist theories and cultural analysis, the research argues that acknowledging women’s pleasure is not just about sexuality but about giving women agency, equality, and dignity. By mapping this neglected area, the study reveals how true gender equality cannot exist until women’s desires are recognized and respected.