Laapataa Ladies - Lost and Found Talking Talkies

Episode 14: Laapataa Ladies
Release Date: 2024
 
This episode is our first listener request. Minal’s cousin Mitali asked us to do a podcast on the recently released movie Laapataa Ladies which is garnering great reviews from critics and audience alike. We are joined by special guest Amit - a marketing professional, an aspiring cricket umpire, and a food lover. You can follow him on Instagram @fooodzilla where he posts about his food, travel, and umpiring adventures. 
The movie’s greatest strength lies in calling out patriarchy, portraying feminism, and taking every single character big or small on a road to self-discovery, while maintaining a light-hearted tone throughout. 

Laapataa Ladies is a 2024 Hindi/Bollywood comedy-drama film directed by Kiran Rao whose last directorial venture was Dhobi Ghat/Mumbai Diaries, which was released in 2011. The film is produced by Aamir Khan Productions 
The film stars two debutants Pratibha Ranta who plays Jaya and Nitanshi Goel as Phool as the 2 brides who get mixed up. Sparsh Srivastav of Jamtara TV series (Netflix)  fame plays the groom Deepak
Other supporting cast members include: 
Chaya Kadam as Mai the tea shop owner, an established actress in Marathi films/TV and theater industry. Ravi Kishan as the inspector who after a not-so-promising career in the 90s in Bollywood moved to Bhojpuri films and became a superstar there. He took up character roles in Bollywood and re-established himself. Geeta Agarwal Sharma - Deepak’s mom who we recently saw in 12th Fail and Fighter. 
Plot Summary: The film is set in rural India in a fictional state called Nirmal Pradesh in 2001. 2 brides are traveling with their respective grooms on a train and there are many more newlywed couples in the same compartment. As was/is the tradition - the brides are in similar red sarees (bridal attire) with the veil over their faces. One of the grooms gets off at the station at night with the wrong bride and chaos ensues. 
Do the 2 brides return to their rightful destinations - Laapataa Ladies is the answer to this question. 
Where to watch: Netflix
Favourite Scenes: 
Inspector Manohar’s funny quips Mai explains the ‘Fraud’ sold to Indian girls Saas, Bahu and Friendship Inspector Manohar interrogates Pushpa/Jaya
Director/Cast Interviews: 
Round table with Neelesh Mishraa...