Kiran Rao’s film Laapataa Ladies, India’s official nomination for the 2025 Oscars, has now landed in a major controversy. The film is facing serious accusations of being copied from the 2019 Middle Eastern short film Burqa City. This issue has gone viral on social media, with people questioning whether India should send a plagiarized film to the Oscars.
Laapataa Ladies is set in rural India in 2001 and tells the story of two brides who get swapped due to identical veils (ghoonghat). The film humorously addresses serious issues like social norms and women’s identity. Upon its release, it received critical acclaim and was highly praised by audiences. However, its nomination for the Oscars is now under scrutiny.
Social media posts claim that Laapataa Ladies is inspired by Burqa City, a 19-minute satirical comedy. In Burqa City, a newlywed man loses his wife due to identical burqas and sets out to find her. The film critiques societal norms that treat women as objects and erase their identities.
Many users have pointed out striking similarities between the two films. The only difference is that Laapataa Ladies replaces burqas with veils. Even Ravi Kishan’s police station scene in Laapataa Ladies is being compared to a similar scene in Burqa City. One social media user commented, “This film is completely copied. It will be rejected at the Oscars.” Another said, “Copying is the only originality left in Bollywood.”
This isn’t the first time an Indian film has faced plagiarism accusations at the Oscars. Several films in the past have been caught in similar controversies. However, Laapataa Ladies is under intense scrutiny because it was widely celebrated. Some critics also allege that Kiran Rao adapted the story to an Indian setting with an agenda to defame Hindu culture. A few users wrote, “The film’s purpose was to portray Hindus as regressive.”
The Film Federation of India initially defended Laapataa Ladies, stating that it sensitively portrays the struggles of Indian women. However, the controversy continues to grow. Burqa City’s IMDb trivia section also claims that Laapataa Ladies is inspired by it.
