It’s official! Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies is India’s official entry for Oscars. Basically, a satire on patriarchy, the film has been chosen from 29 contenders out of a list of 29 films including Bollywood hit Animal, Malayalam National Award winner “Aattam” and Cannes winner “All We Imagine As Light”. The film has been selected under best foreign language category.
The 13-member select committee headed by Assamese director Jahnu Barua unanimously decided on Laapataa Ladies, which has been produced by veteran actor Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, for reckoning in the best international film category at the Academy Awards. Tamil film Maharaja, Telugu titles Kalki 2898 AD and Hanu-Man, as well as the Hindi films Swatantraya, Veer Savarkar and Article 370 were also on the list. Malayalam superhit 2018: Everyone is a Hero was sent last year. In 2023, RRR, The Elephant Whispers, All That Breathes have notched Oscars under different categories.
Dream Come True!
In an interview with PTI, Kiran said, “My dream would be fulfilled if it was, if it would go (to Oscars). But it’s a process, and I’m hoping it’ll (Laapataa Ladies) be considered. I’m sure the best film will go, whoever they choose in the scheme of things.”
It has long been Kiran Rao’s dream for her film to represent India on the Oscar stage. However, she acknowledged that the Film Federation of India (FFI) will ultimately decide which film will be selected.
“Laapataa Ladies” is a heartwarming tale of two rural Indian brides who accidentally switch places during a train ride in 2001. Produced by Rao’s Kindling Productions and Aamir Khan Productions, the film empowers women and received widespread critical acclaim upon its release in March. Starring Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastav, Ravi Kishan, Chhaya Kadam, and Geeta Aggarwal Sharma, “Laapataa Ladies” is a heartwarming and empowering story.
Last month, Rao and Khan participated in a special screening of the film at the Supreme Court of India, which was organized for judges, their families, and officials.
“It’s the vision and foresight of our chief justice to screen a film like this for staff and for justices to start conversations on gender parity, gender equality, women’s empowerment. The fact that he watched the film and reached out to us, we couldn’t believe it. We were so grateful and excited. It really gave us a chance to take this film to a wider consciousness and audience because the Supreme Court and the chief justice himself have in some way endorsed the film or put their goodwill into promoting the film in their circle. It really made or did a lot for our film, even for audiences as they felt that, ‘wow, there’s merit in watching this film’. It really helped our film even get out further,” Kiran Rao further said as she was overwhelmed by the positive response that her film received.
The film aims to promote gender equality and women’s education and empowerment in the rural areas of India, garnering critical praise.