India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards, Laapataa Ladies, has been eliminated from the Oscars race. Directed by Kiran Rao, the Hindi-language film did not make it to the shortlist of 15 films announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) on Wednesday.
UK’s ‘Santosh’ with Indian Actors Secures Spot
While Laapataa Ladies missed out, British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri’s “Santosh”, featuring Indian actors Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar, has been shortlisted. Representing the UK, Santosh joins other strong contenders such as:
Emilia Pérez (France)
I’m Still Here (Brazil)
Universal Language (Canada)
The Girl with the Needle (Denmark)
The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany)
Other films in the competition include Iceland’s Touch, Ireland’s Kneecap, and Senegal’s Dahomey, among others.
What is ‘Laapataa Ladies’ About?
The film, known as “Lost Ladies” in English, takes place in a rural Indian setting during the early 2000s. It tells the story of two brides, Phool (played by Nitanshi Goel) and Jaya (Pratibha Ranta), who are mistakenly swapped during a train ride on their wedding day. The groom, portrayed by Sparsh Shrivastav, embarks on a chaotic search for his wife.
The screenplay and dialogues were written by Sneha Desai, based on a story by Biplab Goswami. The movie features additional dialogues by Divyanidhi Sharma. It is a feminist drama told with humor and subtle commentary on gender roles.
The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and received positive reviews after its theatrical release on March 1. It was produced by Kindling Productions, Aamir Khan Productions, and Jio Studios.
India’s History with the Oscars
India has had limited success in the Best International Feature Film category. The last Indian film to secure a nomination was Lagaan (2002). Other finalists include Mother India and Salaam Bombay!
Although Laapataa Ladies didn’t make the cut, Naatu Naatu from RRR and The Elephant Whisperers brought India Oscars glory last year in other categories.
Oscar Timeline
The final nominations will be announced on January 17, and the Academy Awards will take place on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by Conan O’Brien.
Follow Telugu Funda on trending Social Media Platforms for more Cinema, OTT, Political, And Sports updates
