Kiran Rao’s ‘Laapataa Ladies’ Chosen as India’s Official Entry for the 97th Academy Awards

Kiran Rao’s directorial, Laapataa Ladies, has been selected as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards, which are scheduled to take place early next year. This significant announcement was made on Monday, September 23.

Released in March, the Hindi film, backed by actor Aamir Khan’s production house, achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success. The plot follows two newlywed women who mistakenly swap places during a train ride as they head to their husbands’ homes. Through this unusual journey, the film offers a heartfelt and, at times, humorous exploration of identity, societal norms, and the expectations placed upon women.

After hearing the news of the selection, Rao expressed her gratitude on Instagram. She said, “It is indeed a great privilege to be selected from among such amazing Indian films this year — who are equally worthy contenders for this honour.”

The Film Federation of India (FFI) revealed that Laapataa Ladies was chosen from a highly competitive pool of 29 films. Other notable contenders included Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, which won at Cannes, Anand Ekarshi’s National Award-winning Aattam, and Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s blockbuster Animal, which stirred up controversy.

The Role of the Film Federation of India (FFI)

The Film Federation of India plays a vital role in promoting and protecting the Indian film industry. It acts as the parent body for major film associations across the country. One of its key responsibilities is to select the film that will represent India at the Academy Awards. This task is performed by a 13-member jury, comprising experienced professionals from various creative fields.

This year, the jury was led by acclaimed Assamese director Jahnu Barua, and they conducted their deliberations in Chennai. The jury considered several important criteria for selecting the film, ensuring it met the Academy’s eligibility rules. For example, the film must be at least 40 minutes long, with more than half of its dialogues in a language other than English, and it must have had a minimum seven-day theatrical release within the eligibility period. Additionally, filmmakers are required to pay a submission fee of Rs 1.25 lakh.

However, this year’s selection process attracted some criticism on social media. Many users noted that the jury, which was entirely male, lacked female representation, particularly for a film that centers around the experiences and lives of women.

Praise for Laapataa Ladies

The Film Federation of India praised *Laapataa Ladies* for its ability to resonate with a global audience, especially women. The jury described the film as “a film that can engage, entertain, and make sense not just to women in India but universally as well.”

Yet, the language used in the FFI’s citation sparked some criticism. The jury’s statement referred to Indian women as “a strange mixture of submission and dominance,” which many found controversial and outdated. Additionally, the description that *Laapataa Ladies* portrays women who can “happily desire to be homemakers as well as rebel and be entrepreneurially inclined” was viewed by some critics as an oversimplification of women’s complex roles and aspirations. This phrasing led to debates about how women’s stories are perceived and discussed within the industry.

Best International Feature Film Category at the Oscars

The Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards allows each country to submit one film for consideration. The selection process is divided into two stages. In the first stage, a preliminary committee reviews all the submissions from various countries and narrows them down to a shortlist of 15 films. A nominating committee then picks five finalists from this shortlist, and these five nominees compete for the award. The final vote is cast by the members of the Academy, who decide the ultimate winner.

India has had a rich history of submitting films for this category, though only three Indian films have made it to the final nomination list — Mother India in 1957, Salaam Bombay! in 1988, and Lagaan in 2001. Despite several strong entries over the years, India has yet to win an Oscar in this category. Last year’s submission, 2018: Everyone is a Hero, a Malayalam film depicting the Kerala floods, also did not manage to secure a nomination.

The Journey Ahead for Laapataa Ladies

With Laapataa Ladies now in the running, there is renewed hope that the film could break India’s long-standing drought at the Oscars. Its unique narrative, compelling performances, and critical success have already positioned it as a strong contender on the international stage. Many industry insiders believe that the film’s focus on women’s experiences, along with its universal themes, could resonate well with the Academy voters.

Rao and her team are undoubtedly gearing up for an intense few months ahead as they prepare for the global stage. The Oscars are a significant platform, and getting nominated would be a major achievement for the Indian film industry. The global spotlight is now on Laapataa Ladies, and there is considerable anticipation as the film embarks on its journey to possibly clinch an Academy Award.

In the coming months, the film will likely undergo a rigorous campaign process to build momentum among the Academy’s voters. This will involve numerous screenings, interviews, and promotional events to showcase the film to international audiences and critics alike. Aamir Khan, whose production house supported the film, is also expected to play a key role in this campaign, given his previous success with *Lagaan*, which made it to the final round of nominations in 2001.

As India looks ahead to the 97th Academy Awards, there is widespread excitement about the possibility of finally bringing home an Oscar in this category. With a film like Laapataa Ladies, which blends humor, drama, and social commentary, many believe it has the potential to captivate a global audience and make its mark at the prestigious awards ceremony.

In the words of the FFI, Laapataa Ladies is a film that “can engage, entertain, and make sense” not only in India but across the world. As the film’s journey to the Oscars begins, all eyes will be on Kiran Rao and her team to see if they can take Indian cinema to new heights on the global stage.