The ongoing debate surrounding India’s official entry for the 2025 Academy Awards has intensified, with Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga raising concerns about the selection process. Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies was chosen by the Film Federation of India (FFI), but Monga suggests that the criteria for selection should prioritize films with US distribution over those deemed as the “best” domestically.
Laapataa Ladies at Oscars 2025: Guneet Monga points out “biggest mistake” of FFI in selection process and says, “For the Oscars, it’s very important that you have…”
Guneet Monga’s Critique of FFI’s Selection Process
Laapataa Ladies was chosen over All We Imagine As Light, directed by Payal Kapadia, which had gained international acclaim. The latter won the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and made it to the France shortlist, although it did not secure an Oscar nomination. Monga argues that Laapataa Ladies, despite its domestic success and backing by Lagaan star Aamir Khan, lacks the key element required for an Oscars campaign—an American distributor.
In an interview with Mid-Day, Monga said, “The biggest mistake the FFI makes is choosing what they feel is the best film, rather than one that has a real chance at scoring a nomination.” She emphasized that films lacking US distribution struggle to navigate the complex and expensive process of securing an Oscar nomination.
Why US Distribution Matters
Drawing from her own experience, Monga highlighted how having a solid American distributor can significantly ease the journey for Indian films vying for an Oscar nomination. She said, “I say this to everybody, if India has to choose a film for the Oscars, it’s very important that you have an American distributor. The more solid the distributor, the easier the journey.” Monga shared that her own film, The Elephant Whisperers, backed by Netflix, had the resources and strategy to succeed. She recalled how even Lagaan, the last Indian film to be nominated for Best International Feature, had the backing of Sony Pictures Classics in the US.
Monga stressed, “Nominations are a very, very big deal. To win is out of a dream. The toughest part of the Oscars is going from the shortlist to the nomination.”
FFI’s Rationale for Selecting Laapataa Ladies
FFI President Ravi Kottakara defended the decision to send Laapataa Ladies as India’s entry, stating that All We Imagine As Light felt like a “foreign film” to the selection committee. Laapataa Ladies, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before landing on Netflix, gained moderate box-office success. Its competition, All We Imagine As Light, is set for a nationwide release in India in November and will be distributed in the US by Janus Films.
Also Read: Ravi Kishan on Laapataa Ladies going to the Oscars, “I ate 160 paans in my first paan-India film”
More Pages: Laapataa Ladies Box Office Collection
, Laapataa Ladies Movie Review
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