Laapataa Ladies selected as India's entry to Oscars 2025 because of its ‘Indianness’, says jury chairman Jahnu Barua

Kiran Rao’s film Laapataa Ladies was announced as India's official entry for the Oscars 2025, it was soon followed by a wave of reactions that flooded social media. Many netizens expressed disappointment that Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, which had recently won accolades at Cannes, was overlooked. The decision was made by a 12-member jury led by Assamese director Jahnu Barua, who provided insights into the selection process.
In an interview with The Indian Express, Barua explained that the jury's primary responsibility was to select a film that authentically represents India's diverse social fabric and ethos. He stated, “The jury has to look at the right film that represents India on all fronts. Particularly, the film has to represent India’s social systems and ethos. The Indianness is very important, and Laapataa Ladies scored on that front” . He emphasized that while there may be better films outside the shortlist of 29 contenders, the jury could only choose from those submitted.
He added, “It is important that the best-suited film, which represents India, is sent as the official entry to the Oscars. 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?”
Laapataa Ladies, released in March 2024, is Kiran Rao's second directorial effort following her acclaimed debut with Dhobi Ghat. The film is a satirical comedy-drama revolving around a young man whose bride is accidentally swapped with another woman.
In an exclusive chat with ETimes, Film Federation of India (FFI) President, Ravi Kottakara explained how the film selection was done. He said, "In the jury, everyone has to decide the film. The jury liked 'Laapataa Ladies', and felt that 'All We Imagine As Light' is like a foreign film and not like Indian cinema."
Kottakara elaborated on the jury's perspective, saying, “When they saw Laapataa Ladies, it represented the plight of the Indian woman. In the film, the women had to wear the goonghat, and because of that, all the misunderstandings occur. They felt that this is something that happens only in India.”

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