The Film Federation of India (FFI), a non-governmental body of producers, distributors and studio owners founded in 1951, is facing backlash for its choice of Kiran Rao's film Lord Laapataa as India's official submission to the Best International Feature Film category of the Oscars.
The selection of Laapataa from a competitive list of 29 films came as a surprise to many who were expecting Payal Kapadia's Everything we imagine as light to represent the country. Kapadia's film made history as the first Indian title to compete at the Cannes Film Festival in three decades, and won the Grand Prix, the festival's second-biggest prize. Whereas last year's Grand Prix winner, Jonathan Glazer The area of interestsubsequently winner of the Oscar for best international feature film, questions emerged about the jury's choices.
After the reports the jury saw Everything we imagine as light as “less Indian” than Lord Laapataasays FFI president Ravi Kottarakara The Hollywood Reporter India“The jury said they were watching a European film set in India, not an Indian film set in India.”
According to Kottarakara, the “Indianness” of Lord Laapataa arises from the central plot, which tells the story of two brides who accidentally exchange husbands during a train journey. The two women end up exchanging partners when one of their husbands mistakes the other woman for his wife, thanks to the fact that they both wear a ghoonghat, or veil, which hides their identities. (The Ghoonghat it is a fabric that covers a woman's entire face, hiding her identity and, by extension, her modesty. Although many consider the practice archaic, the custom is still prevalent in several parts of northern India.)
Everything we imagine as lightmeanwhile, tells the story of two Malayali nurses who embark on a journey to the beach in an attempt to deal with the loneliness and alienation of living and working in the hustle and bustle of modern Mumbai.
Ira Bhaskar, film scholar and former dean of the School of Arts and Aesthetics at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, says THR India that the FFI's decision to choose Laapataa Above Light because of the former's focus on traditional Indian cultural practices, it is misleading. “The comment that [Laapata Ladies] it speaks more about India because of the ghoonghat and other traditional practices is an orientalizing perspective,” he says. “I think we shouldn't be in tune with it. To say it Everything we imagine as light feeling more European or looking more European is a bizarre comment. I think films should be judged on their cinematic craftsmanship.”
Adding fuel to the debate were the words contained in the FFI's official statement when it announced its choice Lord Laapataa. “Indian women are a strange mix of submission and dominance,” reads the first line.
Lord Laapataa Screenwriter Sneha Desai urged a broader interpretation of the FFI statement after many on social media called it sexist. “I think the quote is not a clear indication of what the entire association or the panel stands for,” he told India's largest news agency, Press Trust of India (PTI). “I would give them the benefit of the doubt… Yes, they could have been a little [more] careful, but I don't want to read too much into it.”
When questioned about the statement, Kottarakara claims it has been misinterpreted. “They [the jury] I wanted it to be positive,” he says. “We say women are like Goddess Lakshmi [goddess of wealth and good fortune] and Kali [goddess of time, death and violence]. [They are] like Lakshmi, who always blesses you, and also like Kali: they can hurt you whenever they want.
But Shrayana Bhattacharya, author of Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh: India's Young Single Women and the Search for Intimacy and Independencechallenges the simplistic characterization of the FFI Lord Laapata. “India's ruling elite – whether in media, politics, culture – can only see and frame women's issues and gender narrative as clear binaries,” she says THR India. “So a woman must be a perfect victim or a perfect hero: a gold medal CEO-champion or a victim, an image of heroic male dominance or pathetic submissive victimhood. Real life happens in between. It's sad that a wonderful film that celebrates the disruption of gender norms and social change in India is depicted using exactly the binary clichés – submission versus dominance – that it is trying to triumph over.
Others have highlighted the FFI's lack of diversity, with the all-male members on the selection committee possibly contributing to this controversial phrase. Filmmaker and musician Joshua Sethuraman posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Great to see so many women on the committee! No wonder why the [statement] it's against the film itself.”
Journalist and critic Namrata Joshi was less forgiving, stating in a post on X that the “FFI [statement] because the Oscar choice is the strangest reading Lord Laapataa. So terribly condescending towards women in general, just forget about Indian women. Written by a man who suffers from a superiority complex? What does “strange mix of submission and dominance” mean! Offensive!”
Beyond the controversy over the statement, eminent film critic Baradwaj Rangan pointed out that there are a number of practical concerns in choosing India's official entry into the Oscars. “Submitting a film for the Oscars not only means that the film is good, but also that the producers have the funds/desire/know-how/contacts to mount the very expensive Oscar campaign. Lord Laapataa it's the perfect choice,” he posted on X.
While eminent production companies like Aamir Khan Productions and Yash Raj Films — International, like the Female Laapataa distributors, have the means and experience to support him in the Oscar campaign, the same goes for Everything we imagine as light. With Spirit Media, a production company founded by actor and producer Rana Daggubati, having acquired distribution rights in India and other deals already in place to distribute it in major foreign territories, Everything we imagine as light is set to become one of the most distributed Indian independent films of the year (Janus Films and Sideshow will distribute the film in the US).
“We collaborated Everything we imagine as light because we loved the story and the incredible artistry that Payal, the cast and the entire team brought to the screen,” says Daggubati THR India. “After gaining global recognition and appreciation, it would have been a great honor for the film to represent India at the Oscars. We are still very committed to bringing it to audiences across the country and look forward to continuing the journey both in India and abroad. It's a great time of celebration for Lord Laapataa. I wish Kiran and the entire team all the best for this exciting journey ahead.”
This is not the first time that FFI selections have sparked controversy. In 2013, despite international success for Ritesh Batra's Packed lunchthe body chose the drama of Gyan Correa The Good Road. More recently, in 2022, the global success of SS Rajamouli RRR was snubbed in favor of Pan Nalin Chhello Show (Last Cinema Show).
India has submitted films to the Academy Awards' Best International Feature Film race since 1957 and has been nominated three times: for Mehboob Khan's film Mother India (1957), by Mira Nair Salaam Bombay! (1988) and by Ashutosh Gowariker Lagaan (2001) – but the country never took home the Oscar for the category.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will unveil its 2025 Oscar shortlist in several categories, including best international feature film, on December 17. Oscar nominations will be announced on January 17, 2025. The 97th Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, December 17. March 2.