Many people were curious about the other competitors that Kiran Rao‘s Laapataa Ladies defeated when the excitement around the film’s formal selection as India’s 2025 Academy Awards submission subsided. India is the world’s most prolific film producer, releasing hundreds of films in dozens of languages into theaters each year, many of which get critical praise. However, when the lengthy list of candidates for the Oscar nomination was revealed, many were astounded by some of the stranger submissions.
For many years, the responsibility of choosing India’s official Oscar submission has rested with the private organization known as the Film Federation of India (FFI). Along with revealing the selection of Laapataa Ladies on Monday, the federation also made available a list of the other twenty-eight films that were considered. These included a few more popular choices, such as the National Award-winning movie Aattam and Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, which won the Cannes Grand Prix. Nonetheless, people were drawn to a few “bizarre” submissions, the most famous of which was Chhota Bheem and the Curse of Damyaan.
All filmmakers who released their films in India within the Oscar qualifying period of that year are invited to submit their work to the FFI. The film has to be paid a fee (apparently more than ₹1 lakh) in order to be considered. This essentially indicates that any film may be added to the lengthy list, which is open and invited.
That’s how memes abound and Chhota Bheem and the Curse of Damyaan became involved in the race. Several social media users posted the list, highlighting the fact that the critically derided movie was up against some very well-regarded movies. “The boldness of sending Chhota Bheem to the Oscar nominations.” One tweet said, “Damn need this confidence in life.” The entries Kalki 2898 AD, Animal, Kill, and Good Luck were among the others that were considered strange or contentious.
Laapataa Ladies, which is directed by Kiran Rao, stars Ravi Kishen and Chhaya Kadam with up-and-coming actors Sparsh Srivastava, Pratibha Ranta, and Nitanshi Goel. Although it was a financial flop, the movie about two lost brides in 1990s India was well-received by critics.
