Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies is India’s official entry for Oscars

The Film Federation of India has selected Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao, as the country's official entry for the Best Foreign Film category at the Oscars, 2025. This unexpected choice comes from a pool of popular and critically acclaimed films, including Aattam, Kottukkaali Maharaja, Ullozhukku, Aadujeevitham, Jigarthanda Double X, and Thangalaan, Kalki 2898 AD, Hanu-Man among others.

The jury praised Laapataa Ladies for its nuanced portrayal of Indian women, acknowledging the film's unique ability to capture the complexities of their lives. “Indian women are a strange mixture of submission and dominance. Laapataa Ladies (Hindi) captures this diversity perfectly, though in a semi-idyllic world and in a tongue-in-cheek way. It shows that women can happily desire to be homemakers while also rebelling and aspiring to be entrepreneurial. A story that can be seen as one needing change and one capable of bringing about change,” read the jury's citation.

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Based on a story by Biplab Goswami and adapted for the screen by Sneha Desai, Laapataa Ladies follows two newly married women in rural India, shedding light on societal prejudices and the subjugation of women. Jaya Tripathi Singh, played by Pratibha Ranta, is aware of the oppression she faces within marriage, while Phool Kumari, portrayed by Nitanshi Goel, finds comfort in her dependence on her husband. The film exposes how women in remote villages are often kept away from education, ensuring their continued subservience to men.

Laapataa Ladies features compelling performances from a cast of fresh faces, including Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, and Sparsh Shrivastava. Ravi Kishan also delivers a memorable performance as a corrupt cop, who subverts expectations with his twisted sense of virtue.

Though released quietly, Laapataa Ladies garnered critical acclaim and strong word-of-mouth, propelling its success at the box office. The film is now streaming on Netflix.

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