An Oscar is a big thing for the film industry, and when an Indian movie is selected for Oscars it is a time for pride, because Kiran Rao’s “Laapataa Ladies” was announced as India’s official entry for the Oscars 2025.
But, critics are a bit disappointed with the selection, when we have movies like “All We Imagine As Night”, “Bramayugam”, which focuses more on the Indian history or the struggles India faces on a day to day basis, in front of them “Laapataa Ladies” is just a village romance.
The jury who selected the movie for Oscars wanted the pure richness of India, and they wanted a way in which India can be represented to the world.
The director Jahnu Barua, said “It is important that the best-suited film, which represents India, is sent as the official entry to the Oscar. There could be a better film outside the 29 films that were nominated too, but the jury can only choose from what they have been given, right?”
Now if we look into the 29 nominated movie list we will find some movies which represent India more than “Laapataa Ladies”.
A bold choice was taken by the Telugu film industry as they submitted a movie named “Hanu-Man” which is taken from the stories of Lord hanuman. Another notable work was “Sam Bahadur” , a biopic of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw starring Vicky Kaushal.
All the other movies had different aspects to represent India in a more mature manner, but the jury said, “When they saw Laapataa Ladies , it represented the plight of the Indian Woman. In the film , the woman had to wear the goonghat, and because of that, all the misunderstandings occurred. They felt that is something that happens only in India.”
Now, the question is why are they trying to showcase the stereotypical aspects of India in Oscars and not something which is actually relevant and represents India?
Also they felt Kapadia’s “All We Imagine AS Light” is like a foreign film and not like Indian cinema. Where this movie actually predicted what an Indian woman goes through.
With all fairness Kiran Rao’s “Laapataa Ladies” is no doubt a beautiful movie, but just because it showed village and goonghat that doesn’t mean that it showcased the richness of India.
#KiranRao movie #LaapataaLadies India official entry in best foreign film category..#KanganaRanaut #Emergency still waiting for a go ahead by CBFC 😕
— Dr Anjana Warrier (@warrier_anjana) September 23, 2024
Does this Govt have any sense of loyalty at all!!? 😒 pic.twitter.com/dIkHQ0vMbX
Entire movie is 10/10 but if you show them this scene, they will handover the oscar to you 1000/10 scene 💯
— Syed (@aamirsspk) September 23, 2024
The most deserving #Oscar2025 entry from India and hope they bring glory to India by winning it. #LaapataaLadies @AKPPL_Official @raodyness
pic.twitter.com/fGYGpyXnwt