The Film Federation of India, which oversees the selection of India’s official entry for the Best Foreign Film category at the 97th Academy Awards, has announced ‘Laapataa Ladies’ as the country’s submission.
Among the 29 films competing for the honour of being India’s official entry for the 97th Oscar ceremony were twelve Hindi films, six Tamil films, and four Malayalam films.
This year, the following films were submitted for consideration: Hanu-Man, Kalki 2898 AD, Animal, Chandu Champion, Sam Bahadur, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, Good Luck, Gharat Ganpati, Maidaan, Joram, Kottukaali, Jama, Article 370, Aattam, Aadujeevitham, and All We Imagine As Light. Alongside Laapataa Ladies, films such as Thangalaan, Vaazhai, Ullozhukku, and Srikanth made it to the top five selected by the jury.
The jury members were introduced to the media by Ravi Kottarakara, President of the Film Federation of India, with filmmaker Jahnu Barua serving as the chairman of the 13-member panel.
In response to ‘Laapataa Ladies’ being named India’s official Oscar entry, Director Kiran Rao stated, “This recognition reflects the tireless efforts of my entire team, whose dedication and passion brought this story to life. Cinema is a powerful medium that connects hearts, transcends boundaries, and sparks meaningful conversations. I hope this film resonates with audiences worldwide, just as it has in India. I extend my deepest gratitude to Aamir Khan Productions and Jio Studios for their unwavering support and belief in this vision. It has been a privilege to collaborate with such a passionate and talented team dedicated to telling this story.”
