Laapataa Ladies Accused of Copying Burqa City Ahead of 2025 Oscars

Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies, India’s official entry for the 2025 Oscars, has found itself in the spotlight for reasons that go beyond its storytelling. The film, which touches on themes like patriarchy and gender roles, has come under fire after some users on social media accused it of copying the plot of a 2019 French-Arabic short film called Burqa City.

The Plot Similarities Between Laapataa Ladies and Burqa City

In Burqa City, directed by Fabrice Bracq, a man accidentally brings home the wrong woman after a fight with his wife—she’s wearing a burqa, which leads to a series of misunderstandings. This core idea is what critics have pointed to as similar to the central premise of Laapataa Ladies, which follows a similar storyline about mistaken identity involving women in burqas. Some are questioning whether the film is really as original as it seems.

The controversy grew when the IMDb trivia section for Burqa City mentioned Laapataa Ladies by name, saying that the Bollywood film was “inspired by the concept” of the French short. This fueled the discussion, with many pointing out the similarities between the two films in both themes and specific scenes. While Laapataa Ladies has earned praise for its thoughtful look at gender dynamics, these accusations of copying are putting a damper on the film’s reception.

However, not everyone is convinced by the claims. Some argue that the concept of mistaken identity and swapped brides is not new at all. One Reddit user brought up Naukadubi, a work by Rabindranath Tagore about bride swapping, suggesting that such themes have been a part of storytelling in India for a long time. Others joked that the whole idea of brides getting swapped is a well-known trope from Ekta Kapoor’s K-serials, adding another layer of context to the discussion.

Is This the First Time an Indian Oscar Entry Faces Plagiarism Claims?

This isn’t the first time an Indian Oscar entry has faced accusations of borrowing too much from other works. In 2013, Barfi!, which was also India’s official Oscar pick, came under scrutiny for allegedly copying scenes from films like The Notebook, City Lights, and several Charlie Chaplin classics. Even the film’s music was accused of sounding similar to the score from Amélie. So, Laapataa Ladies isn’t the first film to face such accusations, and it likely won’t be the last.

Despite the criticism, many still find value in Laapataa Ladies, especially in how it approaches important cultural conversations. The film is being praised for its portrayal of gender roles and identity in modern-day India, with Rao’s direction being recognized for its sensitivity and depth. But with the growing accusations of plagiarism, the film’s recognition at the Oscars now feels like it comes with added baggage.