Laapataa Ladies, a satirical film directed by Kiran Rao, has been chosen as India’s official entry for the Oscars 2025 in the Best International Feature Film category. The Film Federation of India made the announcement on Monday, marking the film as the country’s representative at the prestigious Academy Awards.

Set in 2001, the Hindi film tells the story of two brides who are accidentally swapped during a train ride on their wedding day. Through this unique premise, Laapataa Ladies offers a sharp commentary on gender dynamics and patriarchy in rural India, blending humor with social critique.

The film was selected from a pool of 29 contenders, including popular Bollywood film Animal, Malayalam National Award winner Aattam, and Cannes-winning All We Imagine As Light. The selection was made unanimously by a 13-member jury led by renowned Assamese filmmaker Jahnu Barua.

Produced by Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, Laapataa Ladies will now compete for a nomination at the 2025 Academy Awards, bringing attention to Indian cinema’s evolving portrayal of rural society and gender issues.