Kiran Rao’s much-acclaimed Laapataa Ladies has landed in the middle of a swirling controversy, as sharp-eyed viewers draw striking parallels between the film and earlier works like the 1999 Doordarshan teleplay Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol and 2019 short film Burqa City. As murmurs of creative inspiration turn into loud accusations of copying, Rao’s silence on the matter is only adding fuel to the fire. Is this a case of homage, coincidence or something more questionable?
Kiran Rao who made her debut in direction with Laapataa Ladies has so far projected the movie as her original work. Kiran never mentioned drawing inspiration from either Ananth Mahadevan’s Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol or the Arabic short film Burqa City. Netizens are upset with Rao for not speaking up on the matter. They also believe that Kiran Rao copied Laapataa Ladies film poster from Ghoonghat ke Pat Khol thinking that nobody would notice.
Kiran’s silence has sparked buzz in the country with everyone angry at her for silently and selfishly taking all the credit for a story idea that wasn’t her own. Laapata Ladies has many scenes that seem like exact copies from Burqa City.
Laapataa Ladies Or Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol
Ghoonghat ke pat khol is a 1999 film directed by Ananth Mahadevan who is a well known actor, screenwriter and director. Ananth Mahadevan posted on his instagram handle a long time ago in which he wrote that a similar film has been made with a different title. However, his post went unnoticed and unreported.
“My very first full length feature GHOONGHAT KE PAT KHOL was for Channel9 Gold, the Australian producer who opened shop in India in 1999.
It was a delightful story of two brides in the traditional Ghunghat getting mixed up in a train and finding themselves in Bombay with the wrong husband. The search for the right man and wife ends in a twist that challenges tradition and redefines the institution of marriage. The late Hrishikesh Mukherjee loved it so much, he saw it twice!
Amused and humbled to find that it has inspired a similar film this year😉” wrote Mahadevan who’s upcoming movie Phule is set to release on 11 April starring Pratik Gandhi and Patralekha.
Just three weeks ago when Laapataa Ladies received award for the best original story, Ananth took a dig and posted a sarcastic comment on his instagram saying, “GHUNGHAT KE PAT KHOL just made a clean sweep of something called IIFA awards.. including BEST ORIGINAL STORY!! Of course with another title.. but then a 🌹 rose 🌹 is a rose by any name!”
Laapataa Ladies Or Burqa City
Burqa City is a satirical Arabic short film set in the Middle East, where a man accidentally brings home the wrong woman, mistaking her for his wife, all because she’s veiled in a burqa. The movie highlights the obligations of strict sharia law that restricts women from showing their faces in the public. Netizens in India have accused Kiran Rao of copying some exact scenes from Burqa City in Laapataa Ladies.
Burqa City is directed by Fabrice Bracq and is available on YouTube. Fabrice reacted to the Laapataa Ladies controversy in an interview to IFP saying that he wanted to make a feature film based on his short film but it’s not possible now. He also said he was unaware that a film was made based on his short film. “I watched the film and I was both surprised and shocked to see that although the story had been adapted to Indian culture, many aspects of my short were clearly present.
Laapataa Ladies was India’s official entry to the Oscars. Recently. It also gained recognition among one of the 5 greatest International Films at the Japanese Academy Awards 2024. The movie won high accolades and worldwide attention. Kiran Rao was highly praised for making this movie with new actors. She also featured in the hollywood reporter’s women in entertainment power list.
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