Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies (retitled Lost Ladies) unfortunately has not made it to the shortlist for the Oscars 2025 in the Best International Feature category. The shortlist was announced on December 17, included another Hindi language film about India featuring Indian actors. Santosh is one of the films on the Oscars short list but from UK.

So, the @TheAcademy Oscars shortlist is out. #LaapataaLadies is a very well made, entertaining movie (I enjoyed it), but was absolutely the wrong choice to represent India for the best #InternationalFeatureFilm category. As expected, it lost.
When are we going to realize.. year… pic.twitter.com/iWGpSXY1KD
— Ricky Kej (@rickykej) December 18, 2024

Kiran Rao’s coming-of-age tale follows two young brides in rural India separated from their husbands. The film was chosen as the official entry for the 97th Academy Awards in September by a 13-member selection committee citing that Rao’s film perfectly captured the diversity of Indian women. The committee chaired by the Assamese filmmaker Jahnu Barua is now being questioned about the selection. The film was picked up from a list of 29 films including this year’s Cannes Grand Prix winner, All We Imagine as Light, directed by Payal Kapadia.

Questioning the selection committee, Grammy-winning music composer Ricky Key tweeted, “So, the @TheAcademy Oscars shortlist is out. #LaapataaLadies is a very well made, entertaining movie (I enjoyed it), but was absolutely the wrong choice to represent India for the best #InternationalFeatureFilm category. As expected, it lost.”

SEE ALSO: Amid Oscar Race Aamir Khan Defends Laapataa Ladies Over ‘Backward Mentality’ Claims; Maybe At One Time…’

Film Federation of India does it again! Their strike rate and selection of films year after year is impeccable. pic.twitter.com/hiwmatzDbW
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) December 17, 2024

Blaming the mainstream Bollywood bubble, he added, “When are we going to realize.. year after year.. we are choosing the wrong films. There are so many excellent movies made, and we should be winning the #InternationalFeatureFilm category every year!”

On the other hand, filmmaker Hansal Mehta also reacted to the news. He tweeted: “Film Federation of India does it again! Their strike rate and selection of films year after year is impeccable.” Many netizens also agreed with their opinions one user adding, “There are many other movie industries which can make better artsy movies than Indian movie makers.”

#LaapataaLadies out of #Oscars2025 race.

Was expecting this anyway, so not surprised. pic.twitter.com/FTQ8sREBLj
— $@M (@SAMTHEBESTEST_) December 18, 2024

Heartbreaking to see Laapataa Ladies miss the Oscars shortlist. Such a well-made and entertaining film! Hard luck this time, but hoping India picks more gems to shine on the global stage.#LaapataaLadies #Oscars #Oscars2025 pic.twitter.com/SRURuFHXfi
— Isha Mehra (@IshaMeh53598003) December 18, 2024

The films and countries that made it into the shortlist include:
Brazil, I’m Still Here
Canada, Universal Language
Czech Republic, Waves
Denmark, The Girl with the Needle
France, Emilia Pérez
Germany, The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Iceland, Touch
Ireland, Kneecap
Italy, Vermiglio
Latvia, Flow
Norway, Armand
Palestine, From Ground Zero
Senegal, Dahomey
Thailand, How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies
United Kingdom, Santosh

Cover Image: Instagram.