Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 18: Director Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies, which was selected as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards, has unfortunately failed to make it to the Oscars shortlist. The film, which had garnered significant attention after its selection, did not secure a spot in the list of top 15 films announced by the Academy.
In response to this, the makers of Laapataa Ladies released a statement expressing their disappointment, while also extending their gratitude to the supporters and the jury for their faith in the film. The statement, issued by Jio Studios and Kiran Rao’s Kindling Productions, read, “Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies) did not make it to the Academy Awards shortlist this year, and we are of course disappointed, but equally we are immensely grateful for the incredible support and belief we’ve received throughout this journey.”
The statement continued, “We at Aamir Khan Productions, Jio Studios and Kindling Productions extend our gratitude to the Academy members and the FFI jury for considering our film. To be included in this prestigious process alongside some of the finest films from across the world is an honor in itself. Our heartfelt thanks to all the audiences around the world who have expressed their love and support for our film.”
The makers also congratulated the films that made it to the shortlist, wishing them all the best in the next stages of the awards. “We congratulate the teams of all the top 15 shortlisted films and wish them the very best in the next stages of the awards,” the statement read.
Despite missing out on the Oscars shortlist, the filmmakers remain hopeful for the future. “For us, this is not the end but a step forward. We remain committed to bringing more powerful stories to life and sharing them with the world,” they added.
Laapataa Ladies was selected by the Film Federation of India (FFI), headed by Jahnu Barua, from a list of 29 films in various Indian languages. Among the contenders were Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light and the National Award-winning Aattam.
While Laapataa Ladies is out of the race, there is still hope for Indian cinema at the Oscars. Santosh, a film starring Shahana Goswami and directed by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri, remains in the race as the United Kingdom’s official entry. Additionally, Guneet Monga’s live-action short film Anuja has made it to the Oscars shortlist, keeping India’s hopes alive.