Composer Ricky Kej Says India Must Look Beyond ‘Mainstream Bollywood’
December 18, 2024: Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies, India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards, has failed to make it to the Oscars 2025 shortlist. This development has sparked sharp criticism from filmmaker Hansal Mehta and Grammy-winning composer Ricky Kej, who called out the Film Federation of India (FFI) for its repeated failures in selecting films that resonate with the global audience.
Hansal Mehta’s Sarcastic Take
Hansal Mehta took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the Oscars shortlist, pointing out FFI’s poor track record. He wrote sarcastically, “Film Federation of India does it again! Their strike rate and selection of films year after year is impeccable.”
Several users on X echoed Hansal’s views. One user commented, “Indian films Laapata!” Another referenced Payal Kapadia’s Cannes-winning All We Imagine As Light, stating it would have been a stronger contender for the Oscars: “AWIAL will forever be a what-if.”
One user also recalled the 1995 Oscars debacle when Shekhar Kapur’s Bandit Queen was bypassed by the FFI due to censor delays, which led to Tamil film Kuruthipunal being chosen instead.
Ricky Kej’s Criticism of FFI’s Choices
Composer Ricky Kej also joined the conversation, posting Laapataa Ladies posters along with a lengthy note. He wrote, “#LaapataaLadies is a very well-made, entertaining movie (I enjoyed it), but it was absolutely the wrong choice to represent India for the #InternationalFeatureFilm category. As expected, it lost.”
Kej emphasised the need for a broader perspective: “When are we going to realize that we are choosing the wrong films year after year? India produces excellent movies that deserve to win, but we are trapped in a ‘mainstream Bollywood bubble.’ We need to recognise uncompromising artistic cinema, irrespective of budget, stars, or scale.”
Also Read: Aamir Khan on Laapataa Ladies’ Oscar Dream: “India Would Go Ballistic If We Win”
He concluded by criticizing the film’s presentation for an international audience: “Most Academy voting members probably dismissed Laapataa Ladies just by looking at the posters.”
Also Read: Chaos and Charm: ‘Laapataa Ladies’ Delivers Delightful Drama
Laapataa Ladies and Oscars 2025
Directed by Kiran Rao, Laapataa Ladies is a satire set in rural India. Despite being chosen as India’s official entry in September, it failed to make the shortlist of 15 films announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) on Tuesday.
In contrast, British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri’s Santosh, featuring Indian actors Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar, made it to the Oscars shortlist while representing the UK. The list also includes:
- Emilia Pérez (France)
- I’m Still Here (Brazil)
- Universal Language (Canada)
- The Girl with the Needle (Denmark)
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany).
Missed Opportunities?
India’s choice of Laapataa Ladies sparked debate from the start. Competing against films like the Bollywood blockbuster Animal, the Malayalam National Award-winning Aattam, and Payal Kapadia’s acclaimed All We Imagine As Light, many believed the latter would have been a stronger contender on the global stage.
The final nominations for the 97th Academy Awards will be announced on January 17, 2025, and the Oscars ceremony will take place in March.
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Hansal Mehta FFI criticism, Laapataa Ladies Oscars exit, Ricky Kej on Bollywood films, Indian films Oscars 2025, Kiran Rao Laapataa Ladies, Payal Kapadia All We Imagine As Light, Indian films Oscars debate, Santosh UK Oscars entry, Film Federation of India decisions, Best International Feature Oscars 2025,
