India was deeply saddened last night as Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao’s ‘Laapataa Ladies’ failed to make it to the shortlist for the Best International Feature category at the 2025 Oscars. The news has sparked significant backlash, with filmmaker Hansal Mehta and Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej openly criticising the Film Federation of India (FFI) for their decision.
In response to the backlash, FFI jury head Jahnu Barua, who led the 13-member panel that unanimously selected ‘Laapataa Ladies’, voiced his frustration, calling the criticism “unfortunate and uncalled for.”
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Jahnu reflected on the controversy, stressing that the jury’s decision should be respected. He emphasised the importance of respecting the jury’s process and acknowledged that, while everyone is entitled to their opinion, the outcome should be accepted. He also shared that, throughout his career, some of his films had succeeded at festivals while others had not, but this did not diminish the value of the selection process.
Addressing the criticisms of Hansal Mehta and Ricky Kej, who suggested ‘Laapataa Ladies’ was the wrong pick for India, Jahnu firmly stated, “Well, they were not on the jury, that’s all.” He underlined that those challenging the selection should instead understand the reasoning behind choosing the film. He called it a democratic process, which every country should accept.
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Although Jahnu declined to delve into specifics about what ultimately led to the film’s failure in securing an Oscar spot, he did defend the jury’s choice. He further added that the jury believed recent Indian films at the Oscars lacked a true representation of Indian culture. They felt ‘Laapataa Ladies’ embodied the right elements and effectively showcased the social chaos of India, making it a strong choice to represent the nation.
When asked about Payal Kapadia’s film ‘All We Imagine as Light’, which some felt could have been a stronger contender, Jahnu didn’t mince words. “The jury felt that her film was very poor technically,” he noted firmly, reaffirming the jury’s decision.
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