Kiran Rao’s ‘Laapataa Ladies’ Selected as India’s Official Oscar Entry for 2025

A Quirky Comedy Becomes India’s Hopeful for the Best International Feature at the Oscars

Kiran Rao’s *Laapataa Ladies* has been officially chosen as India’s submission for the 2025 Academy Awards. The Film Federation of India (FFI) announced the selection on Monday, with Rao’s film standing out from a pool of 29 contenders. The film, a satirical exploration of patriarchy, was unanimously selected by a 13-member committee led by Assamese filmmaker Jahnu Barua. It now enters the race for the prestigious Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars.

Among the other notable entries in the selection process were *Aattam*, a National Award-winning Malayalam film, *All We Imagine As Light*, a Cannes victor, and the Bollywood blockbuster *Animal*. Telugu films such as *Hanu-Man* and *Kalki 2898 AD*, the Tamil film *Maharaja*, and Hindi films like *Article 370* and *Swatantraya Veer Savarkar* also competed for the spot.

Produced by Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, *Laapataa Ladies* has garnered attention for its light-hearted yet poignant take on the deep-rooted issue of patriarchy. Last year, India’s submission was the Malayalam hit *2018: Everyone is a Hero*.

Speaking to PTI about the selection process, Kiran Rao expressed her excitement: “It would be a dream come true if *Laapataa Ladies* makes it to the Oscars. But it’s a journey, and I believe the best film will be chosen in the end. Whether or not it’s our film, I’m confident the committee will pick the most deserving entry.”

She further noted that a specialized panel is responsible for evaluating the films and selecting India’s best. While *Laapataa Ladies* waits for its international recognition, the film is set to release on March 1, 2024.