India’s official entry ‘Laapataa Ladies’ misses Oscars 2025 shortlist

India’s official submission for the Best International Feature category at the 97th Academy Awards, Laapataa Ladies, is no longer in contention for the prestigious Oscars race.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) released its shortlist of 15 films on Dec 18, excluding the Hindi-language film directed by Kiran Rao.

Despite this setback, British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri's Santosh, featuring Indian actors Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar, secured a spot on the shortlist while representing the UK. Other shortlisted films include France’s Emilia Pérez, Brazil’s I'm Still Here, Canada’s Universal Language, and Germany’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig, among others.

According to AMPAS, 85 countries or regions had submitted entries for consideration in the International Feature Film category this year.

Titled Lost Ladies in English, Laapataa Ladies unfolds in early 2000s rural India, exploring gender roles through a gently subversive lens. Written by Sneha Desai from a story by Biplab Goswami, with additional dialogues by Divyanidhi Sharma, the film follows two brides, Phool (Nitanshi Goel) and Jaya (Pratibha Ranta), who are mistakenly swapped on their wedding day during a train journey. Sparsh Shrivastav plays the confused groom searching for his bride.

The film premiered globally at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and received widespread critical acclaim. It hit theatres on March 1, supported by Kindling Productions, Aamir Khan Productions, and Jio Studios.

India’s Oscar Journey and Controversy

In September, the Film Federation of India (FFI) unanimously selected Laapataa Ladies from a pool of 29 contenders, including hits like Animal, Malayalam award-winner Aattam, and Cannes honoree All We Imagine As Light. However, the jury's selection citation stirred debate online, with critics arguing that its wording contradicted the film’s feminist message.

The citation stated: "Indian women are a strange mixture of submission and dominance. Well-defined, powerful characters in one world, Laapataa Ladies captures this diversity perfectly, though in a semi-idyllic world and in a tongue-in-cheek way."

India's History at the Oscars

India’s journey in the Oscars’ Best International Feature category has seen limited success. Lagaan, also produced by Aamir Khan, was the last Indian film to secure a top-five nomination in 2002. Earlier nominees included Mother India and Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay!

Last year, India celebrated dual Oscar wins with Naatu Naatu from RRR taking Best Original Song and The Elephant Whisperers claiming Best Documentary Short Film.

The final Oscar nominations will be announced on January 17, with the awards ceremony set for March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien.