Soon after the news broke that India’s official selection, Laapataa Ladies, did not make it to the Oscars 2025 shortlist, netizens quickly took to social media to criticise the Film Federation of India (FFI) jury. Many felt that the Kiran Rao directorial lacked the potential to represent India at the prestigious international awards. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta and Grammy-winning music composer Ricky Kej were among those who publicly slammed the FFI’s decision. In response to the growing backlash over the selection of Laapataa Ladies, Jahnu Barua, the head of the jury, has finally addressed the controversy.
