Oscars: India Selects ‘Laapataa Ladies’ For Best International Feature Film Race

India has selected Laapataa Ladies as its candidate for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards. 

Directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Jio Studios, the Hindi film is described as a light-hearted satire on patriarchy.

It follows two brides, whose identities are hidden by an elaborate bridal head covering, who get mixed up during their weddings, setting them on the path of very different destinies from those they had envisaged.

A committee overseen by the Film Federation of India selected the title from 29 contenders which also included Bollywood hit Animal, Malayalam National Award winner Aattam and Cannes title All We Imagine As Light.

The latter film had been cited in international circles as a hot contender to represent India this year, thanks to its Cannes credentials.

That picture, directed by Payal Kapadia, following two nurses who embark on a road trip to a beach town with a mystical forest, world premiered at Cannes as the first Indian work to compete in the festival since 1994

Lead produced by Paris-based production company Petit Chaos it had also made it onto the French Oscar submission shortlist, but failed to make the cut with France selecting Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez.