'Laapataa Ladies' left out of Oscars 2025 race

Laapataa Ladies, India's official submission for the Best International Feature category at the 97th Academy Awards, has been eliminated from the Oscars race.

The Hindi film, directed by Kiran Rao, was not part of the shortlist of 15 films vying for a spot in the final five, as announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) on December 18, 2024.

Released in March 2024, Laapataa Ladies follows two brides who are accidentally swapped on the day of their wedding during a train ride. Set in rural India in the early 2000s, the film explores themes of patriarchy and gender dynamics, blending social satire with a feminist narrative. It stars Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, and Sparsh Shrivastav, with a screenplay by Sneha Desai, based on a story by Biplab Goswami.

Despite Laapataa Ladies not progressing, the film’s makers expressed gratitude for the opportunity. "While we are disappointed, we are immensely grateful for the incredible support we’ve received throughout this journey," they said. The film’s producers thanked the Academy members and the Film Federation of India (FFI) jury for selecting Laapataa Ladies as India’s official submission.

Produced by Jio Studios, Aamir Khan Productions, and Kindling Pictures, Laapataa Ladies is currently streaming on Netflix

Despite receiving critical acclaim following its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and its theatrical release, the film did not make the final cut for the Oscars. The shortlist includes other international contenders such as Santosh (UK), Emilia Pérez (France), I’m Still Here (Brazil), and Universal Language (Canada), among others. A total of 85 countries had submitted films for consideration in the Best International Feature category.

In September 2024, Laapataa Ladies was selected by the Film Federation of India (FFI) as India’s official entry from a list of 29 films The film’s selection was initially met with some controversy, with the FFI’s citation being criticized for its portrayal of Indian women, which many felt contradicted the film’s feminist message.

Although Laapataa Ladies will not be continuing in the race for the Oscars, the film garnered attention for its unique portrayal of women’s lives in India and has continued to spark discussions on social media.

India has had notable success in the Oscars' International Feature category in the past, with Lagaan reaching the top five nominations in 2002. However, no Indian film has made it to the final five since then. The Oscar nominations will be announced on January 17, 2025, with the ceremony set for March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.