In a year filled with heavyweights, it was Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies that emerged as India’s official entry to the 2025 Oscars. Unfolding in the heart of rural India, this film is a commentary on patriarchy, which juxtaposes humour with deep societal critique. With a backdrop of dusty Madhya Pradesh villages and real-life locales, the film captures the essence of a lost India, where women disappear—figuratively and literally—amid the chaos of cultural expectations. 

When the Film Federation of India revealed that Laapataa Ladies would carry the nation’s hopes at the Academy Awards, cinephiles cheered—but not everyone was convinced. Selected from 29 films, including Animal, Kalki 2898 AD, and All We Imagine as Light (AWIAL), the victory was both sweet and surprising. While many celebrated Rao’s comeback and the film’s understated brilliance, others couldn’t help but voice their discontent over what they saw as missed opportunities. Fans of All We Imagine as Light, a Cannes sensation, took to social media in droves. The Payal Kapadia-starrer is considered to be one that has a real shot at Oscars. Their argument? That Laapataa Ladies, while charming, lacks the international appeal of its more polished competitors.