Laapataa Ladies, once celebrated as India’s official entry for the Oscars, is now facing backlash for allegedly borrowing its core concept and scenes from earlier works. The Kiran Rao-directed film, lauded for its sensitive portrayal of rural life and women’s agency, is now being scrutinized not for its content—but for its originality.
Veteran Filmmaker Alleges Story Theft
Ananth Mahadevan, a respected name in Indian cinema, recently came forward claiming Laapataa Ladies shares notable similarities with his 1999 television film Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol. In a statement to the media, Mahadevan said, “It cannot be a coincidence.” He highlighted narrative parallels that suggest more than just inspiration.
Mahadevan’s original telefilm also revolved around themes of mistaken identity and social commentary within a rural Indian setting—elements central to Laapataa Ladies as well.
Echoes of a Foreign Short Film: Burqa City
Adding to the controversy, French filmmaker Fabrice Bracq, who directed the 2019 Arabic short Burqa City, expressed his surprise at how closely Laapataa Ladies mirrored his film. Both stories revolve around a newlywed man who mistakenly loses his veiled bride, leading to a comedic yet poignant search that reveals deeper societal truths.
Bracq has publicly stated he wants to initiate a dialogue with the team behind Laapataa Ladies due to the significant similarities.
Writer Denies Plagiarism Allegations
In response to these accusations, Biplab Goswami, the screenwriter of Laapataa Ladies, strongly refuted all claims of plagiarism. He insists the story, characters, and screenplay were developed through extensive research and original thought over several years.
He further clarified that the film was inspired by a short story idea he had written long ago and that any overlap with other works is purely coincidental.
The Bigger Picture: A Wake-Up Call for Indian Cinema?
The incident has reignited long-standing debates in the Indian film industry about the thin line between inspiration and imitation. With the explosion of internet access and social media, audiences are now better equipped to detect similarities, often pointing out resemblances between Indian films and foreign or lesser-known works.
This isn’t a new phenomenon—many popular Bollywood songs and movies of the past have been found to be “heavily inspired” or directly lifted from global content. The difference now? The internet is watching—and calling it out.
A Moment of Irony
What stings the most for many fans is the irony: Laapataa Ladies was chosen as India’s official submission to the Oscars, representing what the country considers its best cinematic offering. To now find it accused of lifting its plot from not one but two prior films—one domestic and one international—feels like a betrayal of the spirit of creativity and originality the Oscars aim to celebrate.
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