Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies, Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light and Shuchi Talati's Girls Will Be Girls - three women-driven films made the nation proud at home and abroad in 2024.
After Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies failed to make to the final short list of the 97th Oscars nominations, a section of the Internet argued that All We Imagine As Light would have been a better pick for India's Oscars entry.
NDTV asked Girls Will Be Girls director Shuchi Talati to weigh in on the All We Imagine As Light vs Laapataa Ladies debate.
"I don't know. You really can't predict what's going to happen in these awards. May be All We Imagine As Light would have done well," says Shuchi.
"Actually, All We Imagine As Light is doing very well. I really like both the films. Chhaya Kadam is amazing in both the films. Who knows, [maybe] this time there are two films that have a shot. We have to wait and watch," Shuchi adds.
A still from All We Imagine As Light
Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light won the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The film also had a theatrical release in India in November.
While many had predicted award-circuit favourite All We Imagine As Light as India's pick for the Oscars, the official entry came as a surprise.
Kiran Rao's crisp and light-hearted social drama Laapataa Ladies was chosen as India's official Oscar entry (2025) in the Best International Feature category. Laapataa Ladies, however, did not make the Oscar shortlist.
A still from Laapataa Ladies
Meanwhile, Shuchi Talati's Girls Will Be Girls, a coming-of-age drama about a mother-daughter duo, was another of this year's favourites. It opened to stellar reviews after it was released on Amazon Prime. The independent film, with two Sundance awards, is produced by Shuchi's dear friend Richa Chadha, along with Claire Chassagne and the director herself.
A still from Girls Will Be Girls
Asked if star power is required to promote independent films in India, Shuchi shares, "I don't know if it's required or not. Kani (Kusruti, who played the mother in the film) is already a star. You have seen her in All We Imagine As Light, though that film is being distributed by some star power as well."
Praising Richa and Ali Fazal's support for Girls Will Be Girls, Shuchi tells NDTV, "Star power definitely helps us break through. When Richa is producing a film, people tend to take it seriously."
"Richa and Ali [Fazal, actor and husband of Richa Chadha] are incredible producers. They were ready to put their names, efforts and money in the film they believed in," Shuchi adds.
Girls Will Be Girls has started a conversation about female desire, sexual awakening of a teenager, female sexuality, gender politics and more. Kani Kusruti, Preeti Panigrahi and Kesav Binoy Kiron headlined the film with their powerful performances. It is also on our list of Top 10 Indian films to watch this year.
