“Laapataa Ladies” Out of Oscars Race, British-Indian Film “Santosh” Makes the Cut

India’s official entry for the Best International Feature category at the 97th Academy Awards, Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao, has failed to make it to the shortlist of 15 films vying for final nominations. Representing a feminist drama set in rural India during the early 2000s, the film follows two brides, Phool and Jaya, who are swapped during a train journey. Despite its critical acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and unanimous selection by the Film Federation of India (FFI), the movie, titled Lost Ladies for international audiences, couldn’t replicate the success of past Indian entries like Lagaan.

Meanwhile, British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri’s Santosh, featuring Indian actors Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar, secured a spot on the coveted shortlist representing the UK. Other contenders include Emilia Prez (France), The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany), and Dahomey (Senegal), among others. This year, 85 countries and regions submitted films, reflecting the global competition in this category. Notably, India has previously secured three nominations in the history of the Oscars but has yet to secure a win in the Best International Feature category.

The Academy Awards ceremony is set for March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with comedian Conan O’Brien as the host. In other categories, India had significant success last year with Naatu Naatu from RRR winning Best Original Song and The Elephant Whisperers clinching Best Documentary Short Film. The official nominations for the upcoming Oscars will be announced on January 17, intensifying the race for cinema’s most prestigious honors.

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