Our take
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 seemingly simple swap is the entire plot of Laapataa Ladies, but director Kiran Rao transforms this mishap into a hilarious, yet realistic, satire that challenges plenty of the norms enforced on women in the country. As Phool and Jaya switch places, the film understands where their respective mindsets come from– Phool having not learned much about the world, and Jaya having been jaded by it– but the film doesn’t stop there. It brings them to places that challenge those mindsets, and in turn, they challenge the people around them too, by actively making choices from the mindsets they had to hold to survive. 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 story
In 2001, somewhere in rural India, two young brides get accidentally swapped on a train. In the ensuing chaos, they both encounter a host of colourful characters, resulting in hilarious and unexpected consequences.
Elsewhere
"To mince meanings, Rao’s latest feature is the opposite of lost -- a joyous, resounding win."
— Proma Khosla
"This mode of storytelling can be heavy-handed for the sake of mass appeal, but director Kiran Rao deftly combines the literal and symbolic, resulting in a crowd-pleaser filled — for better or worse — with innate goodness."
— Siddhant Adlakha
Somewhere in rural India, 2001. Rushing out of the train, Deepak, a farmer, is travelling back to his village with his new bride, Phool Kumari. However, as they were also seated near with other newlyweds, Deepak disembarks with the wrong bride, leading all of them to a chaotic search and a journey of self-discovery.
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.
Kiran Rao, how is this only your second directing feature? I can’t wait to see more of your films.
The details
Who picked it
Isabella Endrinal is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She's now free from the corporate night shift. Previous articles have been published in outlets such as NANG Magazine. She's currently catching up on some classic films… if she isn't coping with the fact that the Haikyu anime will end soon.
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