Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies made a lot of buzz in 2024 for its endearing story, relatable characters and socially significant message. Apart from positive reviews, the film became India’s official entry to the Oscars, beating Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light that had created a major controversy. Although the film couldn’t make it to the nomination list, it has received positive reactions at Indian award shows and left an impact on the viewers. But, amid this all, no one could deny that Kiran Rao made a wonderful film. However, the film has again sparked controversy after some netizens have claimed that Laapataa Ladies is copied from another film. Here’s what happened.
Is Laapataa Ladies copied from the short film, Burqa City?
A couple of days ago, some posts surfaced on Reddit that showed glimpses of Fabrice Bracq’s 19-minute short film, Burqa City, which was released in 2019. The film, set in the Middle East, follows the journey of a newlywed man whose wife gets swapped with another woman due to their burqas. Consequently, he sets out on the journey to find her. The film is a satirical comedy that take subtle digs on patriarchy and gender-based restrictions. Does this seem familiar? Many netizens found the film has a similar plot to the Aamir Khan-backed Laapataa Ladies (2023).