Lapaata Ladies: A small film with a big message

Kiran Rao's new film "Laapataa Ladies" delivers a powerful message about education, equality and women's empowerment, all with a touch of humour. 

Despite touching on feminist themes, the film avoids being preachy. Instead, writers Sneha Desai and Divyanidhi transport viewers to the charming world of Nirmal Pradesh of India, telling a heartwarming story with new actors Pratibha Ranta, Nitanshi Goel, Sparsh Shrivastava, and Ravi Kishan.

The plot is simple. Dinesh Kumar (Srivastava) is returning home with his new bride, Phool Kumari (Goel). However, a mix-up on the train leads him to bring Pushpa (Ranta) instead. Meanwhile, Phool is stranded at another station.

As Deepak tries to look for his bride and find the whereabouts of Pushpa's family, it is Pushpa's mysterious and dubious nature that leaves the local cop (Ravi Kishan) suspicious of her. 

Although the story is fictional, it addresses real-life issues. The screenplay, adapted from Biplab Goswami's work, captures the audience's hearts with its attention to detail.

"Laapataa Ladies" explores themes of female solidarity, equality, education, self-reliance, and the unfair expectations placed on women. Each scene delivers a message without feeling preachy, thanks to the exceptional writing and wonderful cast performances.

The film received widespread acclaim upon release on 1 March this year. It is currently available for streaming on Netflix.