Laapataa Ladies (2024)

Language : Hindi

Director : Kiran Rao

Writers : Biplab Goswami, Sneha Desai, Divy Nidhi Sharma

Cast : Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Chhaya Kadam, 
Ravi Kishan, Geeta Agrawal Sharma, Pankaj Sharma

Genre : Drama

Imdb: Laapataa Ladies (2024)

Streaming on Netflix

Those who say Bollywood doesn’t have good films are watching the wrong films. Every Industry has its own set of good movies, some films have strong commercial promise, some films have strong artistic and humanitarian promise. This one actually falls in the second category but it also (actually) did pretty well at the box office; mostly because it was quite entertaining and very thoughtful. The box office success came as a result of the films’ sheer quality rather than the marketing and hype you see designed for big budget films.

Laapataa Ladies works (so well) even when the political climate is against this movie and even though we have a conservative Overton window now. It can make even the most extreme person think or rather reflect. It’s a soft nudge instead of aggressive political ideologies forced upon you. It has a soul and it will touch yours. The film shows you the beauty, problems and the limitations of Rural India. It shows you humanity at its core.

There are tons of problems in India (or Bharat as it will be called in the future), this film is a soft nudge to accept those shortcomings (for what they are) and fix them while we can. (Even though the film is based on a 2001 setting, the problems shown in the film are still prevalent today in multiple parts of Rural India.)


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The Story of the Wind and the Sun (From Aesop’s Fables)

One day, the Wind and the Sun were having a friendly argument.

“I am stronger than you!” boasted the Wind.
“No, I am stronger than you,” said the Sun with a calm smile.

To settle the matter, they decided on a challenge. Just then, they saw a man walking down the road wearing a thick coat.
“Whoever can make the man take off his coat will be the winner,” they agreed.

The Wind went first. He blew with all his strength. Whooosh! He blew harder and harder, hoping the man would remove his coat. But the stronger the Wind blew, the tighter the man held his coat around himself. Exhausted, the Wind finally gave up.

Now it was the Sun’s turn. The Sun shone gently at first, spreading warm and pleasant rays. The man loosened his coat. Then the Sun shone brighter, and soon the man felt so warm that he took off his coat willingly.

The Sun smiled and turned to the Wind.
“See, my friend, gentleness and kindness are often stronger than force and anger.”

The Wind quietly agreed.

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Laapataa Ladies is an absolutely beautiful film, which will make your heart smile.
It shows you the best and worst parts of India, all without being judgemental.

Verdict : 6/7 stars