Laapataa Ladies Chosen as India’s Official Entry for Oscars 2025

Tags: Awards

Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies was selected as India's official entry for the 2025 Oscars.

An Overview of the News

• Assamese director Jahnu Barua, head of the 12-member jury, provided insights into the decision-making process.

Kiran Rao's Second Directorial Venture

• Laapataa Ladies, released in March 2024, is Kiran Rao's second film following her debut with Dhobi Ghat.

• The film is a satirical comedy-drama that tells the story of a young man whose bride is mistakenly swapped with another woman.

Film Federation of India's Perspective

• Ravi Kottakara, President of the Film Federation of India (FFI), provided additional context on the selection process.

• He shared that the jury felt All We Imagine As Light resembled "foreign" cinema, while Laapataa Ladies embodied the Indian experience, particularly focusing on the struggles of women.

• The film’s portrayal of the goonghat (veil) and related cultural misunderstandings was seen as a uniquely Indian narrative, which influenced the decision.