From 'Laapataa Ladies' to 'Santosh': A Tale of Oscar Hopes and Setbacks

Indian film 'Laapataa Ladies' exits Oscars race, while Sandhya Suri's 'Santosh', representing the UK, advances. 'Santosh', a gripping Hindi crime drama set in Uttar Pradesh, delves into themes of class, caste, and intolerance. Shot in four countries, it spotlights a female cop's moral struggle and a widow's journey.

'Laapataa Ladies', India's official entry for the Best International Feature category at the 97th Academy Awards, has bowed out, while Sandhya Suri's 'Santosh', representing the UK, progresses.

Directed by Kiran Rao, 'Laapataa Ladies' failed to make the shortlist of 15 films, the Academy announced Wednesday. The final nominations will be revealed January 17.

'Santosh', a Hindi-language crime drama featuring Shahana Goswami, has earned its spot in the final 15. Meanwhile, 'Anuja', with an Indian connection, advances in the Live Action Short category.