Writer of the award-winning film “Laapataa Ladies”, Biplab Goswami, has reacted vehemently to recent plagiarism claims labeled as “completely untrue.” The film was accused of drawing ideas from the 2019 Arabic film Burqa City based on the premise of mistaken identities of covered women. Goswami has, however, argued that the plot and script were under work well before Burqa City hit the screens.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Goswami disclosed that he had originally registered the tale — originally known as “Two Brides” — with the Screenwriters Association as far back as 2014. He went on to explain that principal scenes, such as the bridegroom marrying the wrong bride, were also part of his original synopsis. He stressed that the screenplay was done and award-winning in 2018, when it became the runner-up at the acclaimed Cinestaan Storytellers Competition.
Goswami further contended that mistaken identities beneath veils is an evergreen narrative device that literary icons such as Shakespeare and Tagore have experimented with. He added that “Laapataa Ladies” employs this common device to narrate an innately grounded, distinctly Indian tale that touches on gender disparities, social norms, and rural politics.
As conversations around content originality intensify in the digital age, Goswami’s clarification aims to uphold the creative integrity of “Laapataa Ladies”. While the controversy continues to stir debate online, the writer remains confident that his film stands on its own merit — crafted from years of research, lived experience, and authentic storytelling.
