Laapataa Ladies: Kiran Rao Joins Small List Women Directors Whose Movies Were India's Oscars Entries

Competing at the Oscars is a dream for many filmmakers and on-camera artists. Over the years, many entries have been sent to the Academy Awards for consideration in the Best International Film category by India, but only three have made it to the list of nominations- Mother India (1957), Salaam Bombay (1988) and Lagaan (2001). Kiran Rao's Laapataa ladies has been picked by the Film Federation Of India ton represent the country at the 97th Oscars, to be held next year in March.

With her film making it to the list of Oscar hopefuls, Kiran is only the 8th woman director in Indian film history whose work has a chance to compete at cinema's biggest stage in the world. India has so far submitted 57 films to the Oscars, and only eight have been directed by women.

Mira Nair

Mira Nair scripted history as the first woman filmmaker whose movie was sent as India's official entry to the Oscars. Nair's Salaam Bombay also made it to the top 5 back at the 61st Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Film category but lost to Denmark's Pelle the Conqueror.

Kalpana Lajmi

In 1993, Kalpana Lajmi's Lajja was India's official entry to the Oscars for the event's 66th edition. However, it failed to make it to the final nominations.

Deepa Mehta

Deepa Mehta's Earth, starring Aamir Khan, was submitted to the Oscars race back in 1999. However, the film was not nominated by the Academy.

Anusha Rizvi

Aamir Khan Productions' Peepli Live, directed by Anushva Rizvi, is a rural set satire. The film was India's official entry to the Academy Awards in 2010 but was not nominated.

Geetu Mohandas

Kannada director Geetu Mohandas' directorial debut Liar's Dice was submitted to the Academy Awards by India in 2014 for the 87th edition of the prestigious ceremony. However, it was not nominated.

Rima Das

Village Rockstars, directed by Rima Das, was submitted by India for Oscars in 2018. The Assamese language coming-of-age drama film follows a 10-year-old girl who befriends a group of boys and dreams of becoming a rock star. It was not nominated.

Zoya Akhtar  

Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh starrer Gully Boy, directed by Zoya Akhtar, was sent to Oscars in 2019. It was not nominated for the Academy Awards.