Is 'Laapataa Ladies' a copy? Internet uncovers films with the same storyline, watch

In 2019, Fabrice Bracq directed a 19-minute short film, Burqa City, set in the Middle East. It follows a newlywed man whose wife is mistakenly swapped with another woman due to identical burqas, leading him on a quest to find her. The satirical comedy critiques extreme patriarchy, gender-based restrictions, and the erasure of women's identities.

Sounds familiar? That's because it's nearly the same plot as Laapataa Ladies (2023), a film that won hearts in India with its simple yet powerful message on women's empowerment. So loved was the film that it became India's official entry for the 97th Academy Awards, though it didn't make the shortlist.

Now, with a clip of Burqa City going viral, the internet is abuzz with one burning question: Why was Laapataa Ladies presented as an original when it appears to be a copy?

A viral Reddit post claims, "In 2023, Kiran Rao made Laapataa Ladies, with the same theme, replacing burqas with ghoonghats. The film carried the same message about patriarchy, societal norms, and women's identity. Even the Ravi Kishan police station scene seems heavily inspired."

Burqa city , 2019 short film - Replace Burqa with Ghunghat you get original Oscar nominated Indian movie.
byu/Barnacleswarley inBollyBlindsNGossip

But here's where it gets even more intriguing. Internet sleuths have discovered yet another film with a strikingly similar plot.

A 1999 movie titled Ghunghat Ke Pat Khol reportedly follows the same storyline as Laapataa Ladies.

Check out a post by Ghunghat Ke Pat Khol director Anant Mahadevan himself:

View this post on Instagram

In his post, Mahadevan subtly acknowledged how his film might have influenced Laapataa Ladies, saying, "Amused and humbled to find that it has inspired a similar film this year."

How did people react?

One user on X expressed disappointment, saying, "I am bit disappointed that this movie is also copied. Why our film makers can't make a film which is not copied."

I am bit disappointed that this movie is also copied. Why our film makers can¡¯t make a film which is not copied.

¡ª Khao Maa Kasam (@khaomaakekasam) March 31, 2025

Others just expressed shock at how this copy was India's official nomination for Oscars.

However, some defended Laapataa Ladies. One post clarified, "Though they share a thematic resemblance, Laapataa Ladies is based on an original story by Biplab Goswami and is deeply rooted in Indian culture and social issues. The execution, tone, and narrative style of both films are quite different."

No, Laapataa Ladies is not a copy of Burga City. While both films explore themes of mistaken identity, patriarchy, and women's issues in society, they are distinct in their storytelling, setting, and execution. Burga City (2019), a French short film, is a satirical take on a¡­

¡ª PJ (@jayswal7477) March 31, 2025

Meanwhile, another user had a hilarious take: "Oh please the main credit for this goes to Ekta Kapoor. Don't you remember brides with ghoonghat getting swapped in the mandap in K-Serials back in the day? All of them have copied from Ekta Kapoor."

And then there was this blunt remark: "This is embarrassing....the creators were enjoying the success as if they had made something original."

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