Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies, India’s official entry to the 2025 Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category, did not make the shortlist, sparking backlash on social media. In response, FFI jury chief Jahnu Barua defended the decision, dismissing All We Imagine As Light as “very bad technically”.
Hansal Mehta and composer Ricky Kej were among the voices criticizing the Film Federation of India’s selection of Laapataa Ladies as India’s official Oscar entry, claiming it was the wrong choice. In response to this backlash, FFI jury chief Jahnu Barua addressed the controversy in an interview with Hindustan Times. He called the criticism “unwarranted” and urged people to respect the jury’s decision.
He also shared his personal experience and explained that despite his films participating in several competitions, both winning and losing, he always respects the process rather than criticizing it.
When asked about industry figures who criticized the FFI’s decision, Jahnu responded by pointing out that these people were not part of the jury. He emphasized that the blame should not fall on the jury, and encouraged people to instead understand the reasoning behind their choice.
He also stressed that the selection was a democratic process and urged the country to accept the jury’s verdict. Furthermore, he defended the jury’s decision by explaining the reasoning behind their choices.
FFI’s jury chief emphasized that recent Oscar entries lacked a strong Indian essence, and the jury felt that a film should represent the nation authentically. Barua expressed it Laapataaa ladies captured India’s social turmoil brilliantly, making it the ideal candidate.
Jahnu Barua also raised the suggestion that Payal Kapadias Everything we imagine as light might have been a better choice, saying: “The jury felt that her film was very poor technically.”
For the unaware, All We Imagine As Light made history by becoming the first Indian film to win the Grand Prix at Cannes 2024. It has also been nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Critics Choice Awards 2025. Directed and written by Payal Kapadia, the film features Divya Prabha , Kani Kusruti, Hridhu Haroon, Chhaya Kadam and more.
Meanwhile, Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao, is a drama set in rural India, following two brides separated from their husbands. Produced by Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, the film stars Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta and Sparsh Shrivastava, with supporting roles from Ravi Kishan and Chhaya Kadam.
