"The film carried the same message"
Kiran Rao’s film Laapataa Ladies has been accused of plagiarism after a video clip of an Arabic short film, Burqa City, went viral.
The film, India’s 2025 Oscar entry, has drawn comparisons to the 2019 short directed by French filmmaker Fabrice Bracq.
The viral clip shows a newlywed man searching for his wife after she is mistaken for another burqa-clad woman.
In Laapataa Ladies, protagonist Deepak embarks on a similar search when his new bride is swapped with another ghoonghat-clad woman on a train.
Another parallel occurs in a police station scene.
In Burqa City, an officer laughs at the protagonist when shown a picture of a veiled woman, calling her unrecognisable.
In Laapataa Ladies, Ravi Kishan’s character reacts similarly when Deepak presents a photo of his veiled wife.
The film has received critical acclaim but one user shared a clip from Burqa City and wrote:
“Kiran Rao’s Lapaataa Ladies, India’s official entry to the Oscars and projected as an original work, actually seems heavily inspired by a 2019 short film titled Burqa City.
“Set in the Middle East, the 19-minute film follows a newlywed man whose wife gets exchanged due to identical burqas. He then embarks on a journey to find her.
“The satirical comedy highlights the absurdity of a society where women are treated as interchangeable objects rather than unique individuals, critiquing extreme patriarchy, gender-based restrictions, and the loss of identity.
“Kiran Rao made Laapataa Ladies, with the same theme, replacing burqas with ghoonghats.
“The film carried the same message about patriarchy, societal norms, and women’s identity. Even the Ravi Kishan police station scene seems heavily inspired.”
Kiran Rao’s Lapata Ladies, India’s official entry to the Oscars and projected as an original work, actually seems heavily inspired by a 2019 short film titled Burqa City.
Set in Middle East, the 19 min film follows a newlywed man whose wife gets exchanged due to identical… pic.twitter.com/b7GcHN2MmI
— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) March 31, 2025
Social media users expressed disappointment over the similarities.
One wrote:
“So what will you call it? Inspiration or copy?”
Another comment read: “There is nothing original about Bollywood anymore. All inspiration comes from wine-filled movie night parties. If you know, you know!”
A more detailed reaction stated: “It’s intriguing that Laapataa Ladies has drawn comparisons to Burqa City given the striking similarities in themes and narrative structure.
“If Rao’s film indeed mirrors key aspects of Burqa City, it raises valid questions about originality and the fine line between inspiration and imitation.
“While it’s possible that Rao took inspiration from the short film, the core message about patriarchy, societal norms, and the loss of identity is universal and worth exploring.
“However, recognising the source of inspiration is essential, especially when it comes to international recognition like the Oscars.”
This is not the first time Laapataa Ladies has been accused of plagiarism.
In July 2024, Ananth Mahadevan claimed the film resembled his 1999 directorial debut, Ghunghat Ke Pat Khol.
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