Fabrice Bracq, a filmmaker from France known for his 2019 Arabic-language short film Burqa City, has publicly raised concerns over Laapataa Ladies, the latest directorial project by Kiran Rao. Bracq claims the Indian feature shares more than just a passing resemblance to his earlier work.
He believes the parallels between the two films are too specific and numerous to be coincidental. The matter caught fire after a comparison video went viral online, showcasing scene-by-scene similarities between Burqa City and Laapataa Ladies, prompting many to question whether the latter had borrowed too heavily from the former’s narrative.
In a statement to India Today, Bracq explained that even before watching the film, he was startled by how closely its storyline aligned with his own short film’s premise. Upon viewing it, he said he was stunned by the number of overlapping elements, even though the Indian adaptation had been culturally localized. Among the similarities he highlighted were a caring, innocent husband whose wife vanishes; a contrastingly abusive husband; and a corrupt, aggressive police officer flanked by two assistants. He also drew attention to a particular image in both films—a veiled woman whose photograph plays a crucial role in the unfolding events.
Bracq further described a scene where the kind-hearted husband searches local shops with a photo of his veiled wife. In a moment resembling Burqa City, a shopkeeper’s burqa-clad wife appears, echoing the visual from Bracq’s film. He also pointed out that both films conclude with a major twist revealing that the missing woman had chosen to escape an abusive spouse, a central turning point in Burqa City.
Wrapping up his remarks, Bracq noted that both stories ultimately promote the same themes—female empowerment and liberation—suggesting that Laapataa Ladies may have drawn not just scenes but also its core message from his original work.
In response to these allegations, Biplab Goswami, the screenwriter behind Laapataa Ladies, issued a formal denial. He shared documentation to affirm the originality of his script, including registration details dating back nearly a decade. Goswami emphasized that he had filed a detailed synopsis titled Two Brides with the Screenwriters Association on July 3, 2014. He later registered a full-length screenplay version in 2018. According to him, that early synopsis already included a scene where a groom mistakenly brings home the wrong bride due to her face being covered by a veil, triggering a comedic misunderstanding—a pivotal moment that launches the story.
Goswami added that the use of veils and mistaken identities has a long literary legacy, citing examples from Shakespeare, Tagore, and Dumas. He maintained that Laapataa Ladies featured unique characters and was rooted in years of research into social issues like gender bias, rural hierarchies, and patriarchy. Calling the plagiarism claims baseless, he stressed that everything—from plotlines to dialogues—was conceived independently.
He concluded by stating that such accusations diminish not only his work but also the dedication of the entire creative team. To back his claims, Goswami released his script’s official registration certificate.
Released on March 1, 2024, Laapataa Ladies stars Sparsh Shrivastava, Pratibha Ranta, Nitanshi Goel, and Ravi Kishan.
He believes the parallels between the two films are too specific and numerous to be coincidental. The matter caught fire after a comparison video went viral online, showcasing scene-by-scene similarities between Burqa City and Laapataa Ladies, prompting many to question whether the latter had borrowed too heavily from the former’s narrative.
In a statement to India Today, Bracq explained that even before watching the film, he was startled by how closely its storyline aligned with his own short film’s premise. Upon viewing it, he said he was stunned by the number of overlapping elements, even though the Indian adaptation had been culturally localized. Among the similarities he highlighted were a caring, innocent husband whose wife vanishes; a contrastingly abusive husband; and a corrupt, aggressive police officer flanked by two assistants. He also drew attention to a particular image in both films—a veiled woman whose photograph plays a crucial role in the unfolding events.
Bracq further described a scene where the kind-hearted husband searches local shops with a photo of his veiled wife. In a moment resembling Burqa City, a shopkeeper’s burqa-clad wife appears, echoing the visual from Bracq’s film. He also pointed out that both films conclude with a major twist revealing that the missing woman had chosen to escape an abusive spouse, a central turning point in Burqa City.
Wrapping up his remarks, Bracq noted that both stories ultimately promote the same themes—female empowerment and liberation—suggesting that Laapataa Ladies may have drawn not just scenes but also its core message from his original work.
In response to these allegations, Biplab Goswami, the screenwriter behind Laapataa Ladies, issued a formal denial. He shared documentation to affirm the originality of his script, including registration details dating back nearly a decade. Goswami emphasized that he had filed a detailed synopsis titled Two Brides with the Screenwriters Association on July 3, 2014. He later registered a full-length screenplay version in 2018. According to him, that early synopsis already included a scene where a groom mistakenly brings home the wrong bride due to her face being covered by a veil, triggering a comedic misunderstanding—a pivotal moment that launches the story.
Goswami added that the use of veils and mistaken identities has a long literary legacy, citing examples from Shakespeare, Tagore, and Dumas. He maintained that Laapataa Ladies featured unique characters and was rooted in years of research into social issues like gender bias, rural hierarchies, and patriarchy. Calling the plagiarism claims baseless, he stressed that everything—from plotlines to dialogues—was conceived independently.
He concluded by stating that such accusations diminish not only his work but also the dedication of the entire creative team. To back his claims, Goswami released his script’s official registration certificate.
Released on March 1, 2024, Laapataa Ladies stars Sparsh Shrivastava, Pratibha Ranta, Nitanshi Goel, and Ravi Kishan.
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