India’s entry for the Oscars, “Laapata Ladies,” directed by Kiran Rao, is facing criticism for allegedly borrowing elements from the Arabic film “The Burqa City.” Following the discovery of the short film by online users, numerous comparisons have emerged between the two works.
In response to these plagiarism claims, writer Biplab Goswami took to Instagram to assert that “Laapata Ladies” is entirely original. He noted that he registered the film’s synopsis with the Screenwriters Association in 2014, prior to the creation of the Arabic film. Goswami elaborated that the screenplay underwent extensive development over several years, with the initial synopsis, titled “Two Brides,” registered on July 3, 2014.
He highlighted a specific scene in which the groom mistakenly brings home the wrong bride, a pivotal moment that propels the narrative. Furthermore, he emphasized that the script was with the Screenwriters Association in 2018 and earned recognition as a runner-up at the Cinestaan Storytellers Competition. Addressing the similarities in the portrayal of veiled female protagonists, he pointed out that the theme of veils and disguises leading to mistaken identities is a longstanding narrative device utilized by renowned authors such as William Shakespeare, Alexandre Dumas, and Rabindranath Tagore. Kiran Rao also shared his statement on her Instagram stories, while “Laapata Ladies” features Pratibha Ranta, Nitanshi Goel, and Sparsh Shrivastava in prominent roles.
