CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: In March this year, Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies released in the theatres and received wide acclaim, both critical and commercial. And now, it became India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards, to be held next year. That the film was exceptionally on point was clear right from the start – the narrative around the Purdah system was beautifully depicted via the journeys of two newlywed women who accidentally swap places during a train ride to their respective husbands’ homes.
This film, backed by ace actor Aamir Khan’s production house, was selected among a line-up of 29 other equally interesting and poignant films, with strong messaging and a deep sense of aesthetics. This list included Payal Kapadia’s Cannes winner All We Imagine as Light, Anand Ekarshi’s national award winning Aattam and Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s controversial, Animal.
So, what exactly was the criteria upon which Rao’s film was selected over the others? How do films get selected to represent the country at the Oscars? The process goes like this: The executive committee headed by FFI President – Ravi Kottarakara at present – invites works by filmmakers for evaluation by a 13-member jury that involves people from “the creative field.” At present, the jury is headed by filmmaker Jahnu Barua. The film undergoes the preliminary round that ensures that it is in line with the eligibility criteria as set by the Academy. This means that the film must be at least 40 minutes long, must be produced outside the United States, must have its dialogues in any non-English language, and must have had at least a seven-day long theatrical release.
Additionally a payment of Rs 1.25 lakh confirms and completes the submission process. The final decision as to which film will be selected for representing India at the Academy is decided by way of a vote after everyone on the jury has watched all the films that have come in. Accordingly, the FFI mentioned in its citation that they found Laapata Ladies to be representative of India’s social systems and ethos and one that can engage, entertain and make sense not just to women in India but universally as well.bmission.
