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Laapataa Ladies’ Exit and India’s Oscar Hopes for 2025

Introduction

Oscars 2025: Laapataa Ladies Misses the Shortlist, But India’s Oscar Hope Lives On

The Oscars Awards 2025 turned into an emotional rollercoaster for India’s film industry. Kiran Rao’s much-anticipated film Laapataa Ladies failed to secure a spot on the Academy Awards 2025 shortlist, triggering widespread disappointment among fans and industry insiders alike.

The setback was hard to swallow—let’s not pretend otherwise. Laapataa Ladies had strong storytelling, critical appreciation, and serious Oscar buzz. Yet, the Oscar shortlist snub reminded everyone of a harsh truth: the Academy can be unpredictable.

Still, this is not the end of India’s Oscars 2025 journey.

This article traces the Oscar campaign of Laapataa Ladies, captures reactions from filmmakers and critics, and—most importantly—shines a spotlight on a fresh ray of hope. India’s Oscar dreams remain alive through Santosh and Guneet Monga’s Anuja, which has emerged as a promising contender at the Academy Awards 2025.

In the ever-competitive race to the Oscars, setbacks are part of the game. And if history has taught us anything, it’s this: Indian cinema has a habit of bouncing back—louder, smarter, and stronger.

Laapataa Ladies’ Road to the Oscars

Choice of Laapataa Ladies as India’s Entry

Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies was chosen as India’s official entry. It will compete for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards. The Film Federation of India (FFI) made the choice. Janu Barua led this process. They selected the film from a pool of 29 strong contenders. All We Imagine as Light was one of the films not selected. It had earlier won an award at the Cannes Film Festival. This decision sparked debates about FFI’s choice.

Thematic Brilliance of Laapataa Ladies

Laapataa Ladies,” India’s Oscars-highlighted film, revolves around powerful themes of women’s empowerment and pressing social issues—elements that deeply resonated with Indian audiences. Rooted in a strong socio-cultural framework, the film gains narrative depth through the distinctive voice of Bengali-speaking narrator Biplab Goswami. This authentic storytelling approach earned widespread acclaim from critics and cinephiles alike, positioning the film as a compelling contender on the global Oscars stage.

Promotional Campaign in the United States

As part of a calculated Oscars campaign, filmmakers Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan mounted an extensive promotional drive in the United States to elevate the film’s global profile. To better connect with international audiences and Academy voters, the film was retitled Lost Ladies. The Oscars-focused strategy featured exclusive screenings, prominent media appearances, and targeted marketing efforts designed to maximize awards-season visibility. However, despite these coordinated initiatives, the film did not achieve the anticipated recognition at the Academy Awards.

The Shocking Elimination

Academy’s Announcement of Shortlist

On December 12, 2024, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced its shortlist. It included 15 films for the Best International Feature Film category. Despite being a strong contender, Laapataa Ladies was absent from the list. This announcement sent shockwaves through the Indian film industry and social media platforms, with fans and critics expressing their disappointment.

Industry Reactions and Public Sentiment

The exclusion of Laapataa Ladies from the next round of the Oscars triggered widespread criticism from film enthusiasts and industry experts. The decision reignited debates over the Film Federation of India’s (FFI) selection process for India’s official Oscar entries. Several critics argued that films perceived to have stronger Academy Awards potential—such as All We Imagine as Light—should have been given priority. As a result, the controversy has once again brought India’s Oscars selection criteria under intense public and industry scrutiny.

New Glimmer of Hope — Santosh and Anuja

Santosh’s Choice for Best International Feature Film

While Laapataa Ladies missed the mark, Santosh emerged as an unexpected contender. Sandhya Suri directed Santosh. The United Kingdom submitted it for the Oscars. It is a Hindi-language international co-production. The film’s screening at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024 earned it critical acclaim.

Storyline and Themes of Santosh

Positioned as a potential Oscars contender, Santosh traces the compelling journey of a widowed woman who steps into her late husband’s role as a police constable. Shahana Goswami delivers a powerful performance, navigating a deeply patriarchal system while confronting entrenched gender roles, institutional corruption, and social injustice. The narrative gains further emotional and thematic weight when she partners with a seasoned detective, portrayed by Sunita Rajwar. Together, they investigate a murder rooted in caste-based discrimination, adding urgency, emotional depth, and contemporary relevance to the film’s socially charged storyline.

Industry Recognition and Actor’s Response

Following the film’s Oscars recognition, lead actor Shahana Goswami expressed her gratitude in a heartfelt Instagram post. She praised director Sandhya Suri for her vision and acknowledged the collective efforts of the entire team behind the project. Goswami also highlighted the significance of the achievement, noting that the film distinguished itself among 85 submissions from countries across the globe—marking a major milestone in its Academy Awards journey.

Guneet Monga’s Anuja Sparks New Hopes

Abuja’s Choice for Best Live-Action Short Film

Apart from Santosh, Guneet Monga’s Anuja has also made it to the Oscars shortlist. The film is competing in the Best Live-Action Short Film category. Guneet Monga has won the Academy Award twice. She is no stranger to the world’s biggest film awards. Her latest work rekindles India’s hope for an Oscar.

Plot and Social Relevance of Anuja

Emerging as a notable Oscars contender, Anuja brings global attention to the harsh reality of child labor in the garment industry—an urgent social issue impacting millions worldwide. Driven by a compelling narrative and powerful performances, particularly by Nagesh Bhonsle, the film exposes the exploitation faced by child laborers while simultaneously delivering a message of hope, resilience, and human dignity.

Industry’s Response to Anuja’s Choice

The announcement of Anuja as a key Oscars selection was met with widespread applause across the Indian film industry. The Indian film fraternity praised producer Guneet Monga for her continued commitment to spotlighting socially relevant stories through impactful cinema. Industry veterans have consistently lauded Monga’s ability to elevate Indian narratives on the global stage, further

Controversy Over India’s Choice Process

The Choice Debate

The exclusion of Laapataa Ladies from India’s Oscars list has intensified industry-wide debate, further amplified by the inclusion of films like Santosh and Anuja. The contrasting selections have raised critical questions about the criteria and process used to choose India’s official Oscar entries. Several critics argue that India would benefit from a more transparent and structured selection framework, similar to the systematic Oscars submission models followed by countries such as Denmark. Adopting such an approach, they believe, significantly strengthen India’s long-term performance at the Academy Awards.

Industry Leaders’ Reactions

Several prominent filmmakers, including Payal Kapadia, publicly expressed support for Laapataa Ladies as a deserving Oscars contender. Kapadia—whose internationally acclaimed film All We Imagine as Light was excluded from consideration by the Film Federation of India (FFI)—used the moment to call for reform in India’s Oscar selection process. She emphasized the need for a more democratic and transparent system to ensure that India’s strongest films receive a fair and competitive opportunity at the Academy Awards.

Looking Ahead to Oscars 2025

Hope for Indian Cinema

The elimination of Laapataa Ladies was disheartening. Nevertheless, the success of Santosh and Anuja reignites hope for India’s representation at the Oscars. Hindi-language co-productions are rising with international backing. This trend includes projects like Santosh. It paves the way for more Indian stories to be recognized on a global platform.

Lessons for Future Submissions

India’s film industry strengthen its Oscars performance by revisiting and refining its film selection process in line with international best practices. A more inclusive and transparent approach to choosing India’s official Oscar submissions would better showcase the country’s diverse cinematic voices and storytelling traditions, ultimately improving its competitiveness on the global Academy Awards stage.

Conclusion

The journey to the Oscars has never been easy, and India’s path has been marked by both notable achievements and setbacks. While Laapataa Ladies fell short of realizing the nation’s Academy Awards ambitions, films like Santosh and Anuja have emerged as promising contenders, offering renewed optimism. The expanding global footprint of Indian cinema underscores the importance of transparent selection processes and well-planned Oscars campaigns. With two films still in contention, India’s legacy at the Academy Awards remains firmly in focus as the world awaits the final nominations.

With two contenders still in the race, India’s cinematic legacy at the Academy Awards remains strong. The world awaits the final nominations. Indian cinephiles continue to dream of seeing the tricolor at the Oscars once again.