NEW DELHI: Laapataa Ladies, India’s official submission for the Best International Feature category at the 97th Academy Awards, has fallen short of advancing in the Oscars race.
The Hindi film, directed by Kiran Rao, was not included in the shortlist of 15 features announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri’s Santosh, featuring Indian actors Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar and representing the United Kingdom, has secured a spot on the prestigious shortlist.
Other films on the list include France’s Emilia Pérez, Brazil’s I’m Still Here, Canada’s Universal Language, Czech Republic’s Waves, Denmark’s The Girl with the Needle, and Germany’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig.
The selection of Laapataa Ladies as India’s official entry came from a pool of 29 films across various Indian languages, including Payal Kapadia’s Cannes Grand Prix-winning All We Imagine as Light.
Set in the fictional state of Nirmal Pradesh in 2001, Laapataa Ladies narrates the story of two brides who are accidentally swapped on a train journey after their marriage.
The plot follows a police officer, Kishan (played by Ravi Kishan), as he investigates the case.
The film is based on an award-winning short story by Biplab Goswami.
Produced by Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao, and Jyoti Deshpande under Aamir Khan Productions, Kindling Pictures, and Jio Studios, the film features a talented ensemble cast including Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastav, Chhaya Kadam, and Geeta Aggarwal Sharma.
While Laapataa Ladies missed its chance at the Oscars, India remains represented through the efforts of Indian talent featured in Santosh, keeping hopes alive for a win at the prestigious event.
