“Laapataa Ladies” out of Oscars race; Hindi-language film “Santosh” secures a spot

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) revealed its shortlist for the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars 2025, and India’s entry Laapataa Ladies failed to make the cut. However, the Hindi-language film Santosh—a UK-backed production—has secured a spot among the 15 shortlisted films.

Despite high hopes for Laapataa Ladies, India’s official submission for the 97th Academy Awards, the film fell short in a fiercely competitive race. Directed by Kiran Rao and based on Biplab Goswami’s award-winning story, the film explores a coming-of-age narrative set in rural India in 2001, where two young brides are accidentally swapped during a train journey. With Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao tirelessly campaigning for the film in the US, including a BAFTA screening hosted by Alfonso Cuaron, its exclusion comes as a significant blow.

India’s 13-member Oscar selection committee, led by Assamese filmmaker Jahnu Barua, had chosen Laapataa Ladies in September from 29 submissions across various Indian languages, praising its portrayal of Indian women’s diversity. Earlier this year, it captured attention internationally but couldn’t sustain the momentum in the Oscars race.

In contrast, Santosh, helmed by Sandhya Suri, brings some cheer for Indian narratives on the global stage. A Hindi-language international co-production set in rural north India, the film follows Shahana Goswami as a young widow who inherits her late husband’s job as a police constable. Grappling with institutional corruption, she partners with Inspector Sharma (Sunita Rajwar) to solve a murder involving a teenage girl from the Dalit community.

Reacting to the recognition, Goswami shared her excitement on Instagram:
“So happy for the team, especially our writer-director Sandhya Suri, for this little glory of recognition for our film Santosh! How incredible to be shortlisted from amongst 85 films. Thank you to everyone who loved it, supported it, and voted for it.”

The Santosh team joins a formidable shortlist, including global contenders like:

• Armand (Norway)
• Dahomey (Senegal)
• Emilia Perez (France)
• Flow (Latvia)
• From Ground Zero (Palestine)
• The Girl With the Needle (Denmark)
• How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (Thailand)
• I’m Still Here (Brazil)
• Kneecap (Ireland)
• The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany)
• Touch (Iceland)
• Universal Language (Canada)
• Waves (Czech Republic)
• Vermiglio (Italy)

The final Oscar nominations will be determined through voting from 8 January to 12 January, with results announced on 17 January.

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