The Film Federation of India has made a significant announcement: Kiran Rao’s ‘Laapataa Ladies’ will represent India at the prestigious Academy Awards in 2025. The film, a humorous take on the complexities of patriarchy, was selected from a diverse range of 29 films, including the critically acclaimed ‘Animal’ and the National Award-winning Malayalam film ‘Aattam’.
A 13-member committee, led by renowned Assamese director Jahnu Barua, unanimously chose ‘Laapataa Ladies’ for the Best International Film category. The selection process saw fierce competition from other notable contenders like the Tamil film ‘Maharaja’, Telugu films ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ and ‘Hanu-Man’, and Hindi films ‘Swatantraya Veer Savarkar’ and ‘Article 370’. Last year, the Malayalam film ‘2018: Everyone is a Hero’ represented India at the Oscars.
‘Laapataa Ladies’ features a stellar cast including Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Ravi Kishan, and Chhaya Kadam. Pratibha, who plays a key role in the film, expressed her elation, stating, “I love this feeling…we were not expecting it but we were definitely hoping for something of that sort to happen. Today it finally happened. So, we are quite happy. In a day or two, I will meet Kiran (Kiran Rao) ma’am and Aamir sir (Aamir Khan). I will meet the entire team soon. I just want to say that I am grateful…Can’t describe this feeling in words.”
Director Kiran Rao, known for her critically acclaimed films, also shared her joy. She mentioned, “I am very happy. I was not expecting an Oscar entry as many good films have been made this year. Now we will have a chance to show this film to a much larger audience. I would like to thank the audience for giving so much love to this film. I think there is something for everyone in this film.”
‘Laapataa Ladies’ is currently streaming on Netflix, having premiered on the platform on April 26th. Since its release, the movie has garnered widespread praise from audiences and critics alike, with social media abuzz with appreciation for its unique narrative and powerful performances. This selection marks a significant moment for Indian cinema and underscores the growing recognition of its diverse storytelling on the global stage.
