When two young brides are mistakenly swapped on a train, it’s a difficult situation, much more so when the brides in question are both veiled and wearing the same red bridal attire. This simple swap is what drives Laapataa Ladiesand as Phool and Jaya switch places, director Kiran Rao and writers Biplab Goswami, Sneha Desai, and Divyanidhi Sharma bring them to places that challenge their respective mindsets, in hilarious and realistic ways. Laapataa Ladies is what it says on the tin– Laapataa is the word for lost– but the sharply written characters, the witty dialogue, and the subtle social commentary make this charming love story one of a kind.

The female characters. The men are hilarious, but what makes Laapataa Ladies work is how the search is mostly driven by Phool and Jaya, and it’s so interesting to see the contrast between their motivations and actions.