- By Srishti Pandey
- Wed, 25 Sep 2024 06:46 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Chhaya Kadam, a talented actress known for her performances in both Laapataa Ladies and All We Imagine As Light, recently expressed her mixed feelings regarding the Oscar snub of the latter. While Laapataa Ladies has been selected as India’s official entry for the 2025 Oscars, the exclusion of All We Imagine As Light has left Kadam feeling both proud and disappointed.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Kadam shared her thoughts on the situation, saying, “I had expected All We Imagine As Light to go to the Oscars. I won’t lie. It deserved the recognition, but I’m happy for Laapataa Ladies too.” She expressed that, as an artist, her primary focus is on delivering good work, though the outcomes are often beyond her control. She emphasised the complexity of the selection process, noting that there are “so many rules and regulations” that impact decisions.
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Despite her disappointment, Kadam remains grateful for the journey All We Imagine As Light has taken her on. The film, which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival, opened numerous doors for her, allowing her to attend film festivals in different countries. Reflecting on her time working on the film, Kadam described the experience as “amazing” and noted that working on such a unique project helped her mature as an artist.
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All We Imagine As Light was shortlisted by France for the Oscars but was ultimately not chosen as the official entry, with Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez being selected instead. The film is set for a limited release in Kerala, followed by a wider release in France on October 2.
While there has been some public debate over the selection of Laapataa Ladies, with criticisms directed at the all-male jury and their reasoning, Kadam believes that understanding cinema is more important than focusing on the gender of the jurors. She stated in a conversation with News18, “It’s important that film connoisseurs are the ones making these decisions, whether they’re male or female.”
In addition to discussing the Oscar selection, Kadam also acknowledged the support from Payal Kapadia, the director of All We Imagine As Light. Kadam shared that Kapadia, despite being hopeful for her own film’s success, was thrilled about Laapataa Ladies receiving recognition. “Payal is a person who celebrates others’ happiness and she is truly happy for Laapataa Ladies,” Kadam said.
As for the future, Kadam is optimistic about Laapataa Ladies’ chances at the Oscars. The film, directed by Kiran Rao, stars Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava and Ravi Kishan, and has already garnered widespread attention. Kadam believes that the recognition will lead to more people discovering the film and hopes it will go on to win an Oscar, stating, “I have a strong feeling it will happen.”