Laapataa Ladies has been in the centre of controversy since so long, for plagiarism reports. Now, recently Biplab Goswami, the writer of Laapataa Ladies, has finally responded to the plagiarism allegations that have recently surrounded the film.
After netizens drew immense comparisons between the Kiran Rao directorial and the 2019 Arabic film Burqa City, Biplab Goswami released a detailed and documented statement to clarify his stand and defend the film’s originality.
Script Registered Years Ago, Says Writer
Taking to Instagram Biplab revealed that the story was originally developed under the title ‘Two Brides’. He registered a detailed synopsis of the film with the Screenwriters Association (SWA) on July,3, 2014. The full-length script was later registered in 2018.
According to him, both documents included key scenes that are being questioned such as the groom mistakenly bringing home the wrong bride due to a veil and the police not being able to identify her from a veiled photograph.
“These scenes were part of the earliest versions of the story and are entirely original,” he asserted.
Classic Trope, Fresh Take
Biplab also addressed the similarities in theme pointing out that the concept of mistaken identity through veils and disguises is a classical storytelling idea. “Writers like Shakespeare, Alexandre Dumas and Rabindranath Tagore have used it for centuries,” he said.
He further stated that Laapataa Ladies may use this age-old trope but with completely original characters, setting and social commentary.
To back all of his statements, he shared screenshots of the SWA registration certificates, proving the originality of the script.
Director Kiran Rao also shared Biplab’s statement on her Instagram stories, further supporting the writer.
About The Film
Released in theatres on 1 March 2024, Laapataa Ladies features Sparsh Shrivastava, Pratibha Ranta, Nitanshi Goel and Ravi Kishan. The film has received critical acclaim for its interesting storytelling and strong performances.
