India’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 2025 Oscars, Laapataa Ladies, has been eliminated from the race, as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced its shortlist on December 17. Directed by Kiran Rao, the quirky comedy about two brides swapped on a train journey in rural India failed to secure a spot in the top 15 films competing for an Oscar nomination.
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Despite positive reviews for its engaging narrative and performances by Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, and Sparsh Shrivastav, Laapataa Ladies was unable to catch the attention of the Academy voters. The film, produced by Aamir Khan Productions, premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and hit Indian theatres on March 1, 2024, but struggled to make an impact at the box office, grossing ₹24.31 crore worldwide.
India’s Selection Sparks Backlash
The exclusion of Laapataa Ladies has sparked renewed debate over India’s film selection process for the Oscars. Critics argue that the Film Federation of India (FFI) made the wrong choice, with many fans lamenting the decision to select Laapataa Ladies over All We Imagine As Light, a film by Payal Kapadia. Fans and film critics took to social media, suggesting that All We Imagine As Light, with its universal themes and subtle storytelling, had a better chance of securing a spot in the final Oscars shortlist.
Grammy-winning artist Ricky Kej also voiced his displeasure, calling Laapataa Ladies the “wrong choice” and criticizing India’s tendency to choose mainstream Bollywood films over artistic cinema.
Oscar Shortlist: The Films That Made the Cut
While Laapataa Ladies exits the race, other international films have successfully made it to the next round.
Here are the 15 films shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Oscars:
- I’m Still Here (Brazil)
- Universal Language (Canada)
- Waves (Czech Republic)
- The Girl with the Needle (Denmark)
- Emilia Pérez (France)
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany)
- Touch (Iceland)
- Kneecap (Ireland)
- Vermiglio (Italy)
- Flow (Latvia)
- Armand (Norway)
- From Ground Zero (Palestine)
- Dahomey (Senegal)
- How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (Thailand)
- Santosh (United Kingdom)
One notable surprise is Santosh, a British-Indian film directed by Sandhya Suri. The movie tells the story of a young Hindu widow who inherits her late husband’s role as a police constable and becomes embroiled in a murder investigation involving a Dalit girl. Santosh stars Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar, and its inclusion has drawn attention, especially given the film’s strong social commentary.
India’s Oscar Journey: A History of Near Misses
India’s journey to Oscar glory has been challenging, with Lagaan being the last Indian film to reach the top five nominations for Best International Feature Film in 2002. Other films like Rang De Basanti (2006) and Taare Zameen Par (2007) were selected as India’s official entries but failed to make the final cut.
This year’s selection process has been criticized for focusing too much on mainstream Bollywood films and not enough on those with unique artistic visions. The Film Federation of India (FFI) faced backlash after picking Laapataa Ladies, which some believe wasn’t the best representation of India’s cinematic potential. The backlash is intensified by the fact that All We Imagine As Light was considered a more deserving contender by many critics.
Looking Ahead
With the shortlist now announced, the competition for the Best International Feature Film is heating up. The final Oscar nominations will be revealed on January 17, 2025, and India’s quest for an Oscar continues. Whether the next selection will break through at the Academy Awards remains to be seen, but the country’s film industry will have to look beyond traditional choices to secure a win.
(With Agency Inputs)
