India has chosen Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies) as its official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards. Directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Jio Studios, the Hindi film is a lighthearted satire on patriarchy. The story follows two brides who, concealed by elaborate bridal veils, are mistakenly swapped on the eve of their weddings, leading them toward unexpected and vastly different fates. The Film Federation of India’s selection committee picked Laapataa Ladies from a pool of 29 contenders, which included Bollywood hit Animal, Malayalam National Award-winner Aattam, and the Cannes title All We Imagine As Light.
