Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao, has been selected as India’s entry for Oscars 2025, under the Foreign Film category.
With themes centred around financial independence among women, their aspirations, the importance of education, and much more, this light-hearted movie has continued to make waves since its release on 1 March, 2024.
The Laapataa Ladies storyline follows two brides who accidentally get swapped during a train journey. The subsequent events will take you on a ride filled with laughter, making you fall in love with every character as the protagonists rediscover themselves, and traverse the concepts of agency and independence.
In between the laughs, you’ll find yourself pondering about societal questions that often don’t make conversation. One example would be a question posed by Deepak’s mother, Yashoda: “Since when do we cook meals as per the woman’s preference?”
Each character has a lesson to teach. Right from Phool’s innocence to Manju Mai’s daredevil attitude to Jaya risking it all for her goal, the movie leaves an indelible mark.
Here are three important lessons the movie imparts:
- Financial independence is important
Manju Mai is a fiercely independent woman who had the gumption to walk out of an abusive marriage. We see how earning for herself, and being exposed to the real world transforms Phool. The sparkle in her eyes when she receives her first income is a sight to behold.
- Sisters before misters
The movie has a strong message that women can support and lift each other up. It defies stereotypes about mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law always being at odds, even prompting Yashoda to ask her mother-in-law if they should become friends.
- Single women can be happy
The movie beautifully portrays that a woman does not need a partner or anyone else to find happiness, exemplified through the depiction of Manju Mai’s character.
Laapataa Ladies is streaming on Netflix and was selected from a pool of 12 Hindi, six Tamil, and four Malayalam films. The Film Federation of India made the announcement on 23 September.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee
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