Laapataa Ladies out of Oscar race; was India's official entry

India’s official entry for the 2025 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category, Laapataa Ladies, has failed to make it to the Oscars shortlist of 15 films. The Hindi film, directed by Kiran Rao, was selected by the Film Federation of India (FFI) to represent India in the competition for the prestigious award. Despite a successful world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and positive critical reception, the film was not included in the list of films competing for the final five nominations.

Laapataa Ladies, set in rural India during the early 2000s, follows the story of two brides, Phool and Jaya, who are accidentally swapped during a train journey on their wedding day. This leads to a series of events where the two women are forced to navigate their new, unintended lives. The film examines themes of identity, societal roles, and the complexities of rural life. The screenplay was written by Sneha Desai, based on a story by Biplab Goswami, with additional dialogues by Divyanidhi Sharma. The film features a cast including newcomers Nitanshi Goel and Pratibha Ranta as the brides, with Sparsh Shrivastav, Ravi Kishan, and Chhaya Kadam in supporting roles.

Despite its critical acclaim, Laapataa Ladies was excluded from the shortlist of 15 films announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) on December 18, 2024. The shortlist, which includes a diverse range of international contenders, is part of the process leading up to the final Oscar nominations to be announced on January 17, 2025. Films in the shortlist represent countries from across the globe, such as Emilia Pérez (France), I’m Still Here (Brazil), Universal Language (Canada), and The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany).

Meanwhile, Santosh, a UK-based Hindi film directed by Sandhya Suri, has been included in the shortlist. The film stars Indian actors Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar. Santosh tells the story of a recently widowed housewife who takes over her deceased husband’s role as a police constable. As she investigates the murder of a young girl, the film explores themes of loss, grief, and justice in a small community. The film is the official UK entry for the Best International Feature category.

In addition to Santosh, the short film Anuja, which has an Indian connection, also made it to the Oscars shortlist. Directed by Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai, Anuja is a New Delhi-based story about a nine-year-old girl, Anuja, who is forced to choose between pursuing her education and working in a factory with her sister. Anuja is backed by producer Guneet Monga, whose previous production, The Elephant Whisperers, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film in 2024.

The 2025 Oscars saw 85 countries or regions submitting films for consideration in the Best International Feature category, a record for submissions. The final list of nominations will be announced on January 17, 2025. Other films in the shortlist include Waves (Czech Republic), The Girl with the Needle (Denmark), Touch (Iceland), and How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies (Thailand).

The Film Federation of India, which is responsible for selecting India’s official Oscar entry, has faced criticism in previous years for its choice of films. In the past, debates have arisen over the selection process, with many arguing that the films chosen do not always represent the diversity or global recognition of Indian cinema. The FFI’s role remains crucial in determining India’s participation in the prestigious awards.