Kiran Rao’s “Laapataa Ladies” has been selected as India’s official entry for the 2025 Academy Awards in the Best International Film category, as announced by the Film Federation of India. The film, a light-hearted satire on patriarchy, was chosen from a competitive pool of 29 films, including popular titles like “Animal”, the Malayalam National Award winner “Aattam” and the Cannes-winning “All We Imagine As Light”.
A 13-member committee led by Assamese filmmaker Jahnu Barua unanimously decided on “Laapataa Ladies” as the country’s contender. Other films considered included the Tamil title “Maharaja”, Telugu films “Kalki 2898 AD” and “Hanu-Man”, and Hindi movies “Swatantraya Veer Savarkar” and “Article 370”. Last year “2018: Everyone is a Hero” was India’s entry.
Produced by Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao under their banners Aamir Khan Productions and Kindling Productions, “Laapataa Ladies” tells the story of two brides who are accidentally swapped during a train journey in rural India in 2001. The film released in March 2024 has received universal acclaim for its heartwarming and empowering portrayal of the protagonists’ journey.
The movie stars Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta and Sparsh Shrivastav in lead roles, alongside seasoned actors Ravi Kishan, Chhaya Kadam and Geeta Aggarwal Sharma. Upon its release, “Laapataa Ladies” earned high praise from critics for its engaging narrative and strong performances.
All the best to the team of “Laapataa Ladies” for Oscars!
