Oscars 2025: Laapataa Ladies Out Of The Race; Anuja Keeps India’s Hopes Alive

India’s official entry for the Best International Feature category at the 97th Academy Awards, Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies), is no longer in contention as it failed to make the shortlist of 15 films announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). on Wednesday.

Directed by Kiran Rao, Laapataa Ladies is a feminist drama set in rural India during the early 2000s. The film follows two brides, Phool and Jaya, who are accidentally swapped during a train journey on their wedding day. The movie stars Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastav, Chhaya Kadam, Ravi Kishan, and Geeta Agrawal Sharma. It premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and received critical acclaim upon its theatrical release on March 1, backed by Kindling Productions, Aamir Khan Productions, and Jio Studios.

British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri’s Santosh, starring Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar, representing the UK, has made it to the Oscars shortlist. The film tells the story of a widowed housewife who inherits her late husband’s police job and becomes involved in a murder investigation. Other shortlisted films include Emilia Pérez (France), I’m Still Here (Brazil), Universal Language (Canada), and The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany).

In the Live Action Short category, Anuja, a short film with an Indian connection, also advanced to the next stage. Directed by Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai, Anuja explores the struggles of a gifted nine-year-old girl deciding between education and factory work. The film is executive produced by two-time Oscar winner Guneet Monga, with Mindy Kaling serving as producer.

Notably, Lagaan remains the last Indian film to make it to the final five in the International Feature category in 2002. Other Indian films nominated in the past include Mother India (1958) and Salaam Bombay! (1989).

In recent years, India has achieved Oscar success with Naatu Naatu from RRR winning Best Original Song and The Elephant Whisperers taking home Best Documentary Short Film.

The Academy will announce the final nominations on January 17, and the 97th Oscars, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will take place on March 2 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.