Laapataa Ladies Misses Oscar Shortlist but Ignites New Hopes

'Laapataa Ladies', India's contender for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, failed to make the shortlist. The filmmakers expressed gratitude to supporters and remain optimistic about future projects. Meanwhile, India's hopes persist with 'Santosh' and 'Anuja' still in the Oscar race.

Director Kiran Rao's film 'Laapataa Ladies', which was India's official entry for the 97th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category, is no longer in the Oscars race. Despite the buzz surrounding its selection, the film did not make it to the shortlist announced by the Academy.

In response to the announcement, Jio Studios and Kiran Rao's Kindling Productions released a statement expressing their disappointment. They thanked the supporters, the jury, and the Academy for their faith in the film, describing the journey as a prestigious experience. The filmmakers extended their gratitude to all who supported 'Laapataa Ladies' globally.

The statement also conveyed congratulatory messages to the films that made it to the top 15 shortlist, wishing them success in the upcoming stages of the awards. The creators remain committed to delivering powerful stories and expressed optimism about future opportunities.

In September, the Film Federation of India, led by Jahnu Barua, selected 'Laapataa Ladies' from a competitive list of 29 Indian films, including Payal Kapadia's 'All We Imagine As Light' and the National Award-winning 'Aattam'.

While 'Laapataa Ladies' is out of the Oscars' contention, India's hopes continue with Shahana Goswami-starrer 'Santosh', directed by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri, as the United Kingdom's official entry. Additional hope arises from Guneet Monga's live-action short film 'Anuja', which has been shortlisted for the awards.

(With inputs from agencies.)