Kiran Rao’s famous missing ladies have been accused of copying the 2019 Arabic film Burka City. Kiran Rao’s film Missing Ladies has been accused of literary theft, as a video clip of Arabic City called Burka City went viral on social media. Kiran Rao’s light-hearted social drama, which was India’s official Oscar entry this year, has been accused of “copying” its concept from the 2019 short film Burka City directed by French filmmaker Fabris Brake.
Missing ladies accused of copying Arabic film Burka City
The viral clip questioned Rao’s originality, which was also India’s official entry at the Oscar this year. As soon as the post went viral, many users questioned whether it looked like a similar plot, in which a newly married man was looking for his wife, as he was accidentally replaced with another woman wearing a burqa.
People expressed disrespect on the internet
After the viral video, strong questions arose on the Internet whether Rao has copied the concept from the Arabic film. However, another class of the audience argued whether it was just ‘inspired’ and was not ‘copy’. Neetzons reacted to this and expressed surprise whether Kiran Rao has copied the concept of Arabic film. One user wrote- Nothing produced by Bollywood does not seem to be the basic work of art. They are all shamelessly pasted copy from elsewhere, shamelessly offered as original work. Another said- literary theft in India. No new concept. The third comment wrote, “Nothing can happen right now … I felt that it is real … It is good that Arijit has a beautiful song Sajni Re.”
Could not come true claims of copying?
However, some people say that copy claims may not be true. AI platform Grockal said that the missing Ladies Biplab is based on the story of Goswami and is not like Burka City. While both films have a wrong identity theme, the missing Ladies are set with a wedding veil in rural India, while Burka City is with a burqa in the Middle East. But Grokel said that the film may be more similar to the veil’s doors.
About missing ladies
The missing ladies were released in theaters on 1 March 2024. Directed by Kiran Rao, the film stars Sparsh Srivastava, Pratibha Ranta, Nitanshi Goyal and Ravi Kishan in the lead roles. The film takes the audience back to the 2001 rural India. Its story revolves around two brides, whose train swap during the journey. This journey filled with ups and downs begins when her husband begins looking for a real bride.
Kiran Rao, made under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions and Kindleing Productions, has made a comeback in direction after Dhobi Ghat. Prior to release in theaters, the film was shown in 2023 at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). It received a standing ovation from the audience present at the festival. Many famous celebrities including Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra, Vijay Verma also praised the film. Later, missing ladies were selected as India’s official presentation for the International Feature Film category at the 2025 Oscar.
Kiran Rao’s Lapata Ladies, India’s official entry to the oscars and projection as an original work, actually seems heavily inspired by a 2019 short film titled Burqua City.
Set in Middle East, The 19 Min Film Follows A Newlywed Man Whose Wife Gets Exchanged Due to Identical… pic.twitter.com/b7gchn2mmi
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