Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies has been picked as India’s official entry to the 97th Academy Awards, set to take place next year on March 3, next year. The rural set drama beat 29 other movies from India to enter the Oscars 2025 race. The list of submitted movies included last year’s blockbuster hit, Ranbir Kapoor starrer Animal, Malayalam film Aattam, which won the National Award for Best Feature Film this year and Cannes winner All We Imagine As Light, directed by Payal Kapadia.
The 13-member selection committee headed by Assamese director Jahnu Barua unanimously decided on Laapataa Ladies, produced by Aamir Khan and 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.
The process of selection followed by the Film Federation of India
The executive committee of the Film Federation of India, the parent body of all the leading film associations of India, in its managing committee meeting had announced the opening of applications for receiving the films for India’s entry to Oscars 2025.
The entries for the submission of films were open from August 15 through September 10. The FFI jury included senior qualified people from the creative field. The final entry was decided by a vote after all the screenings were done.
Kiran Rao was hopeful of Laapataa Ladies making it to the Oscars race
Ahead of the announcement by the FFI, in an interview with PTI, director Kiran Rao expressed her desire to see Laapataa Ladies as India’s official entry to the Oscars. “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,” the Dhobi Ghat director told PTI.
Laapataa Ladies is a heartwarming and empowering take on two brides in rural India in 2001, who accidently get swapped during a train journey. The film is produced by Kiran’s Kindling Productions and Aamir Khan Productions.
