Laapataa Ladies is India’s entry under the Foreign Film category for the 2025 Oscars, the Film Federation of India announced on Monday. Film Federation of India president Jahnu Barua shared the news. The film has been selected from 12 Hindi films, 6 Tamil and 4 Malayalam films.
This year the jury is headed by 13 members. Laapataa Ladies is directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Kiran Rao, Aamir Khan, Jyoti Deshpande. The film features several new faces. The film stars Nitanshi Goyal, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Chhaya Kadam, Ravi Kishan.
India’s official Oscar entry
Laapataa Ladies is expected to get a nomination for the Best Foreign Film. Members of the Film Federation of India gathered in Chennai and announced that they are sending Laapataa Ladies is India’s official entry for Oscars 2025 as India’s official entry to the 97th Academy Awards.
Laapataa Ladies Oscar dream
Recently, Kiran said that the Film Federation of India (FFI) will select the best film. “If that happens, it would be my dream that it goes (to the Oscars). But it is a process, and I hope it (Laapataa Ladies) will be considered. I am sure the best film will be selected, no matter which scheme they choose it under,” Kiran told PTI.
But earlier in February, during the press screening of the film, Kiran said: “Our primary identity is from the audience’s response at the box office. If the audience and the country appreciate our work, it will be the biggest compliment for us.”
Kiran Rao’s return to direction
Made under the banners of Aamir Khan Productions and Kindling Productions, Laapataa Ladies marked Kiran Rao’s return to direction after Dhobi Ghat. Prior to its theatrical release, the film was screened at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2023. It received a standing ovation from the audience present at the festival.
India’s recent Oscars journey
Last year, Tovino Thomas’ 2018 was selected as the official submission for the 96th Oscars. However, the film failed to make it to the shortlist. The 95th Academy Awards were huge for India as the song Naatu Naatu from SS Rajamouli’s RRR won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. India also swept the documentary section, with The Elephant Whispers winning Best Documentary (Short). Shaunak Sen’s All That Breathes was also nominated for Best Documentary Feature but didn’t win the award.
