Oscars 2024: In a historic move, Kiran Rao’s piquant satire, Laapataa Ladies, has been chosen as India’s official entry for the 2025 Oscars. The announcement, made on September 23 by the Film Federation of India (FFI), has sent ripples of excitement through the film industry. Directed by Kiran Rao, and produced by the visionary duo Aamir Khan and Jyoti Deshpande, Laapataa Ladies stands as a poignant yet humorous critique of patriarchy in rural India. The film was chosen unanimously from a competitive pool of 29 stellar contenders, including Bollywood's big-budget Animal, the Malayalam National Award winner Aattam, and Cannes favourite All We Imagine As Light.
Laapataa Ladies In Oscars 2025
The FFI jury, chaired by acclaimed Assamese filmmaker Jahnu Barua, hailed the film's sharp narrative and social relevance. As Laapataa Ladies takes the baton to represent India in the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards, it’s also an emblem of artistic bravery and progressive storytelling.
Presented by Jio Studios and Aamir Khan Productions, the film is based on an award-winning story by Biplab Goswami. The screenplay and dialogues are deftly crafted by Sneha Desai, with additional dialogues by Divyanidhi Sharma. Featuring Nitanshi Goel, Sparsh Shrivastava, and Pratibha Ranta in lead roles, the film weaves a witty yet thoughtful narrative, showcasing Rao's directorial prowess after a long hiatus.
The jury’s selection process was far from easy, with films like Kalki 2898 AD, Swatantraya Veer Savarkar, HanuMan, and Article 370 also vying for the spot. Among the 29 entries were Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam films, proving the diversity and depth of Indian cinema. Notable titles such as Chandu Champion, Sam Bahadur, and Joram were also in the running, but it was Laapataa Ladies that ultimately stood out for its bold narrative and unique perspective.
With the Oscars just months away, the spotlight is now on Kiran Rao, Aamir Khan, and the entire team behind Laapataa Ladies. Will this sharp satire on societal norms break new ground at the Academy Awards? Time will tell, but for now, India's hopes are high.
