French filmmaker Fabrice Bracq has accused Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao, of borrowing heavily from his 2019 Arabic short film Burqa City. According to Bracq, the similarities between the two films are too many to be coincidental — and a viral comparison video on social media has only added fuel to the fire.
“Too Many Parallels to Ignore,” Says Bracq
In a statement to India Today, Bracq expressed his shock after watching Laapataa Ladies.
“Even before watching the film, the plot sounded too familiar. But after watching it, I was surprised and shocked to see how many elements from Burqa City were clearly present,” he said. Among the similarities he listed were:
- A kind, naive husband who loses his wife
- A violent, abusive husband in contrast
- A corrupt police officer flanked by two sidekicks
- A photo of a veiled woman shown during the search
- A dramatic twist where the missing woman has intentionally run away from her abusive husband
He added, “The film even carries a similar message about feminism and women’s emancipation.”
Laapataa Ladies Writer Biplab Goswami Responds with Proof
In response to the accusations, writer Biplab Goswami denied any plagiarism. He issued a detailed statement clarifying the timeline and originality of the script.
“The screenplay was years in the making. I first registered a detailed synopsis with the Screenwriters’ Association (SWA) on July 3, 2014, under the title ‘Two Brides’,” Goswami wrote.
He added that the full-length script was officially registered in 2018 and even won runner-up at the Cinestaan Storytellers Competition that year.
According to Goswami, key scenes—including the mistaken identity due to a bridal veil and the comedic moment at the police station—were already present in the early drafts. He emphasized that the idea of mistaken identity using veils is a timeless storytelling device used by the likes of Shakespeare and Tagore.
“These Allegations Are Completely Untrue”
“Laapataa Ladies uses this classic narrative in a unique setting, with original characters and a strong social message about gender inequality and rural power dynamics. The accusations are not just false—they diminish the effort and integrity of the entire team,” Goswami stated.
He also shared official registration documents to back his claim.
A Celebrated Film Now Caught in Controversy
Released theatrically on March 1, 2024, Laapataa Ladies has received critical praise for its storytelling and performances by Sparsh Shrivastava, Pratibha Ranta, Nitanshi Goel, and Ravi Kishan. But with plagiarism allegations now in the spotlight, the conversation around the film has taken a sharp turn. Whether this controversy fades or escalates further remains to be seen.
