India has chosen Kiran Rao’s comedy of errors Laapataa Women (Misplaced Women) to characterize the nation within the 2025 Oscar race within the Best International Feature class.
The Hindi-language movie, which premiered finally 12 months’s Toronto International Movie Pageant, beat out Payal Kapadia’s All We Think about As Gentle, which had been thought-about the frontrunner for the Oscar slot, after its rapturous reception in Cannes, the place it gained the pageant’s Grand Jury prize.
However Rao’s characteristic has confirmed a crowd-pleaser on the pageant circuit. The sunshine satire follows Jaya (Pratibha Ranta) and Phool (Nitanshi Goel): Two new brides, whose faces are hidden behind similar pink marital veils, each touring on the identical Indian cross-country rail automobile to their nuptials, who get by accident swapped and land on the improper weddings, setting them on very completely different destinies. Yash Raj Movies picked up worldwide distribution rights to the movie, which bowed on Netflix India after its native theatrical launch.
Regardless of the nation’s lengthy and wealthy cinema custom, Indian movies have struggled within the Oscar race. Solely three Indian films have obtained a Best International Feature nomination, a long time aside: Mehboob Khan’s Mom India in 1957, Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay! in 1988, and Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan in 2001. S.S. Rajamouli’s Telugu-language action-adventure epic RRR, launched on Netflix, was not put up for Best International Feature however made historical past for India final 12 months profitable the Oscar for Best Unique Music.
The deadline for submissions for the 96th Oscars is Nov. 14. The shortlist for greatest worldwide characteristic contenders might be introduced Dec. 17. Nominations might be introduced Jan. 17, 2025. The 2025 Academy Awards might be held on Sunday, March 2.
