Mumbai (Commonwealth Union)_ In a significant development for India’s Oscar hopes, Laapataa Ladies, the nation’s official entry to the 2025 Academy Awards, has been excluded from the Oscars race. The announcement came when the Academy revealed its shortlist for the Best International Feature category. Directed by Kiran Rao and co-produced by actor Aamir Khan, the film failed to make it to the top 15 films selected for further consideration. Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao, centers around the story of two newlywed brides who are mistakenly swapped during a train journey to their husbands’ homes. Combining humor with its emotional depth, the film gained a strong following and eventually transformed into a sleeper hit. Featuring a stellar cast including Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastav, Chhaya Kadam, and Ravi Kishan, the film was initially met with a mixed reception but eventually gained traction for its heartwarming and poignant storyline. Audience success led to the film’s selection as India’s official entry for the 2025 Oscars.
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Though Laapataa Ladies is out, there is still a hope for India in the Oscars race. The film Santosh, which features Indian actress Shahana Goswami in a lead role, made it to the shortlist for Best International Feature. Santosh is the United Kingdom’s entry for this prestigious category. Directed by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri, the film tells the story of a widow who, after her husband’s death, joins the police force in Uttar Pradesh. Shot largely in and around Lucknow, Santosh has already been praised for its complex portrayal of a female cop navigating moral dilemmas in a society marked by class, caste, and intolerance.
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Premiering at the 77th Cannes Film Festival as part of the Un Certain Regard section, Santosh was hailed for its skillful combination of a thrilling plot and character study. Goswami’s portrayal of a woman caught in a web of ethical and personal conflicts has earned the film widespread acclaim, with many seeing it as a strong contender for the final Oscar nominations. In addition to Santosh, another Indian film has advanced to the Oscars. Anuja, a short film, is one of the 15 contenders in the Live Action Short Film category.
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The shortlisted films for Best International Feature, in addition to Santosh, include I’m Still Here (Brazil); Universal Language (Canada); Waves (Czech Republic); The Girl with the Needle (Denmark); Emilia Perez (France); The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany); Touch (Iceland); Kneecap (Ireland); Vermiglio (Italy); Flow (Latvia); Armand (Norway); From Ground Zero (Palestine); Dahomey (Senegal); and How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (Thailand). Out of these 15, five films will ultimately make it to the final nominations list.
The Academy’s process for selecting the nominees involves extensive voting by its members from all branches, with a minimum viewing requirement for eligibility. For the next stage, members will be required to watch all 15 shortlisted films before casting their votes for the final nominations. As the competition intensifies, comedian Conan O’Brien will host the 97th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, March 2, 2025. The final nominations will be announced on January 17, with anticipation building over which films will secure their place in Oscar history.
