š¬ Laapataa Ladies vs. All We Imagine as Light: Why India Keeps Missing the Oscars š
- MediaFx
- Oct 2, 2024
- 3 min read
India's journey to the OscarsĀ has always been tricky! This year, the 2025 entry for Best International Feature FilmĀ has sparked another debate. India chose Kiran RaoāsĀ commercial hit Laapataa Ladies, leaving behind two critically acclaimed films: Payal KapadiaāsĀ Cannes Grand Prix-winning All We Imagine as LightĀ and Anand EkarshiāsĀ Aattam. While Laapataa LadiesĀ is a fun, mainstream film, was it the best pick for the Oscars? Letās dive into the controversy. šš„
š„ Indiaās Oscar History: Why We Fall Short
India, despite producing the highest number of films globally, has been nominated for the OscarsĀ in the Best International Feature FilmĀ category only three timesĀ in the last 77 yearsāMother IndiaĀ (1957), Salaam Bombay!Ā (1988), and LagaanĀ (2001). That's a pretty sad track record! š
Many feel the reason India misses out on this prestigious award is the tendency to choose mainstream filmsĀ over indie gemsĀ that resonate globally. This year, despite having Kapadiaās All We Imagine as Light, a film already backed by France for its Oscar entry, Indiaās jury chose a commercial Hindi film, leaving movie buffs and critics scratching their heads. š¤·āāļø
š¬ Whatās So Special About Laapataa Ladies?
Directed by Kiran Rao, Laapataa LadiesĀ is a quirky film about two brides who accidentally swap husbands on a train due to their veiled identities. While the film has its moments of humorĀ and highlights the issue of womenās empowerment, it's not exactly Oscar material when compared to Payal KapadiaāsĀ socially relevant and deeply layered All We Imagine as Light. š
Laapataa LadiesĀ does reflect Indiaās rural setting and traditional challenges, but can it impress the global audience? Well, thatās a big question. š¬
šŖ What Did We Miss With All We Imagine as Light?
Kapadiaās filmĀ is a stunning take on womenās rightsĀ in India, depicting the emotional and social struggles women face. It made history by winning the Grand Prix at CannesĀ and breaking a 30-year drought for India at the prestigious festival. š Many felt it was a āshoo-inā for the Oscars, considering its global appeal and American distributor, but alas, the jury had other ideas. š¤¦āāļø
Laapataa LadiesĀ lacks the international distributors and connections that films need to mount a successful Oscars campaign. On the other hand, Kapadiaās film was already supported by Janus FilmsĀ in the US, which is key to getting noticed by Oscar voters. šš¬
š¤ The Final Verdict: Oscars Still Elusive for India
Year after year, India picks films with lengthy songsĀ and dance numbers, hoping to showcase Indian culture. While that's beautiful, itās not always what works at the Oscars. In contrast, smaller, indie filmsĀ that focus on relevant themes have better chances of connecting with a global jury. The fact that RRRĀ went on to win an Oscar for Best Original Song after being rejected as Indiaās official entryĀ speaks volumes about the importance of strategy. š¶š
š¤ A Lesson for the Future
At MediaFx, we hope that India learns from these experiences and chooses films that can truly competeĀ on the global stage. Laapataa LadiesĀ is a fun film, but with movies like All We Imagine as LightĀ being snubbed, we might have just missed another golden opportunity. š¬āØ
TL;DR Summary š°
India has once again stirred controversy by picking Laapataa LadiesĀ as its Oscars 2025Ā entry over critically acclaimed indie filmsĀ like Payal Kapadiaās All We Imagine as Light. The decision has sparked debates about why India continues to miss out on Oscar nominations. While Laapataa LadiesĀ is a quirky film, it lacks the global appeal and backing Kapadiaās film had, making it a risky choice for the Oscars.
