Netizens Slam FFI As Laapataa Ladies Fails to Make It To Oscars Shortlist: 'Those People Are Idiots, Need To Be Fired'

‘Laapataa Ladies’ failure to make it to the Oscars shortlist has reignited criticism of the Film Federation of India’s selection process.

India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Oscars, Kiran Rao’s ‘Laapataa Ladies’, has failed to make it to the Academy’s shortlist. This announcement, made by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), sparked frustration among cinephiles and reignited criticism of the Film Federation of India’s selection process. The quirky comedy, set in rural India, revolves around the chaos caused by two young brides who go missing during a train journey. While the film received critical acclaim in India, it couldn’t compete with the likes of I’m Still Here (Brazil), Universal Language (Canada), and The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany), among others that made the cut. 

Controversy around selection 

The exclusion of 'Laapataa Ladies' has fueled widespread debate, with many arguing that Payal Kapadia’s Cannes-winning 'All We Imagine As Light' (AWIAL) would have been a stronger contender. Netizens have heavily criticised the Film Federation of India (FFI), accusing it of undermining India’s chances at the Oscars by opting for a film they believe lacked universal appeal. 

Netizens slam FFI

Grammy-winning artist Ricky Kej expressed his disappointment on social media, tweeting, “So, the @TheAcademy Oscars shortlist is out. #LaapataaLadies is a very well made, entertaining movie (I enjoyed it), but was absolutely the wrong choice to represent India for the best #InternationalFeatureFilm category. As expected, it lost. When are we going to realize.. year after year.. we are choosing the wrong films. There are so many excellent movies made, and we should be winning the #InternationalFeatureFilm category every year! Unfortunately we live in a "Mainstream Bollywood" bubble, where we cannot look beyond films that we ourselves find entertaining. Instead we should just look for good films made by film-makers who are uncompromising in their art.. low budget or big budget.. star or no star.. just great artistic cinema. Below is the poster of #LaapataaLadies, I am sure most academy voting members dismissed the film just by looking at these.” 

Social media reactions echoed Kej’s sentiments. One user sarcastically commented, “Guess what is Missing or Laapata from the Oscars shortlist. Future lesson for that confederacy of dunces of Film Federation of India committee - An oscar campaign for your beloved desi film can't start in October. All We Imagine As Light had a direct path to an Oscar nod.” 

Another tweeted, “A shattering humiliation for India. A calamitous defeat for the Film Federation that could be seen coming from afar. If the only measure of success is to make choices that make you competitive, they have utterly & entirely failed. FFI needs an overhaul & people need to be fired.” 

Film enthusiasts voiced their frustration over FFI’s decision-making process. “Indian Oscar committee always does that. At least for now, 4 times India rejected an easy nominee The Lunchbox, The Disciple, RRR and now All We Imagine as LIght. Those people are idiots,” wrote a fan. 

Another tweet read, “FFI snubbed AWIAL, destroying our chances to be on the list. The Film Federation of India requires a full revamp. The ones who are there now should step down and let others who understand and know the art of cinema take over.” 

Highlighting All We Imagine As Light’s international accolades, a user pointed out, “‘AWIAL’ was deserving… already selected in Critics Choice and Golden Globe.”  

Another lamented, “Lol. Laapataa Ladies out! Maybe the Academy didn’t find it very Indian, like how our committee didn’t find AWIAL very Indian.” 

Another user wrote, “And just like that Laapataa Ladies is out of the Oscars race. Another day of looking outside the window and ‘imagining’ the AWIAL team on the red carpet and that podium.” 

Why All We Imagine As Light was a better choice

This isn’t the first time India’s Oscar selection has come under scrutiny. Critics have long accused the FFI of failing to recognise films with the potential to resonate with global audiences. Calls for structural reforms within the committee have grown louder, with many demanding that decisions be made by individuals well-versed in global cinema trends. 

Laapataa Ladies, featuring Sparsh Srivastava, Pratibha Ranta, and Ravi Kishen, received praise for its engaging narrative and performances. However, Payal Kapadia’s 'All We Imagine As Light', an evocative portrayal of Mumbai’s working class, had already earned international recognition with accolades like the Grand Prize at Cannes and nominations at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.