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Last Updated: April 05, 2025, 17:52 IST
Biplab Goswami, the writer of Kiran Rao’s film Laapataa Ladies, has addressed plagiarism allegations that emerged after some viewers noted similarities with the film Burqa City.
In his response to the accusations, Laapataa Ladies writer Biplab Goswami asserted the originality of his work. He supplied documentation to support his claims, stating that the story, characters, and dialogue of Laapataa Ladies are original creations. Goswami highlighted that the detailed synopsis for the film was registered with the Screenwriters Association back in 2014, while a feature-length script with the working title “Two Brides” was registered in 2018.
He emphasized that the concept of veils and disguises leading to mistaken identities is a traditional literary device, utilized for centuries in storytelling. According to his defense, Laapataa Ladies employs this familiar theme but introduces wholly original elements in its characters, setting, and narrative arc. This clarification comes in light of public scrutiny, particularly after a viral video compared the plot of Laapataa Ladies to that of the 2019 Arabic movie Burqa City.
In his statement, Goswami elucidated, “The screenplay for Laapataa Ladies was meticulously crafted over several years. I registered the film’s detailed synopsis with the Screenwriters Association on July 3, 2014, which outlines the entire narrative. Within this synopsis, there is a scene depicting the groom mistakenly bringing home the wrong bride due to the veil, which serves as the catalyst for the unfolding story. The scene conveys the groom’s distress and confusion, as well as that of his family, leading to comedic circumstances.”
He further explained, “On June 30, 2018, I registered the full-length script titled ‘Two Brides’ with the SWA, which later received recognition as a runner-up at the Cinestaan Storytellers Competition in the same year. This script also contained the humorous moment where the policeman finds the veiled bride’s photograph amusing.”
Discussing the narrative traditions, Goswami noted that the themes of mistaken identity and disguises have long been employed by renowned authors such as William Shakespeare, Alexandre Dumas, and Rabindranath Tagore. He asserted, “Laapataa Ladies interprets this classic trope through original characters, settings, and storytelling that reflect significant social themes. The story, dialogues, characters, and scenes are products of extensive research and genuine introspection regarding issues such as gender inequality, rural power dynamics, and male dominance in both Indian and global narratives. Our work is entirely original, and any claims of plagiarism are unequivocally false.”
In closing, he remarked, “These allegations not only undermine my dedication as a writer but also the relentless work of the entire team involved in the filmmaking process.” To further solidify his stance, he included the certificate of registration from the Screenwriters’ Association in his statement.
Kiran Rao also shared Goswami’s statement through her Instagram account.
Laapataa Ladies debuted in theaters on March 1, 2024, and features a cast including Sparsh Shrivastava, Pratibha Ranta, Nitanshi Goel, and Ravi Kishan in prominent roles.
Source
www.news18.com