Kiran Rao's film, Lapata Ladies, is currently embroiled in plagiarism accusations, with claims that it is a copy of the Arabic short film, Burka City. The film's writer, Biplab Goswami, has broken his silence and offered his defense.
Entertainment Desk: Controversy continues to surround Kiran Rao's film, Lapata Ladies. Writer Biplab Goswami is facing plagiarism accusations, with claims that the film is a copy of the Arabic short film, Burka City. Goswami has now publicly addressed these allegations. Let's see what he had to say.
Similarities between Lapata Ladies and Burka City
Lapata Ladies features several elements similar to Burka City. The film depicts a man visiting a police station to search for his missing wife, showing them a photograph of her wearing a burqa. Social media users claim this scene is reminiscent of Burka City, leading to the plagiarism accusations against Lapata Ladies.
Writer Biplab Goswami's Response to the Accusations
Writer Biplab Goswami clarified that he registered his story with the Screenwriters Association in 2014 and possesses proof of this registration. Goswami stated, "If anyone felt this way, they should have questioned me instead of simply leveling accusations." He also mentioned his unawareness of the comparison being drawn between his film and Burka City.
Impact of the Accusations: The Writer's Pain
Expressing his distress, Biplab said, "We have worked hard on our film, but when someone makes accusations without any inquiry, it affects one's credibility. I worked on this story for 10 years, and then everything changes in an instant. It's very sad and disheartening." He also mentioned the film's team is under significant stress due to these accusations.
Burka City Director's Statement
The director of Burka City recently acknowledged some similarities between Lapata Ladies and his film. He stated that his film was written in 2017, shot in 2018, and premiered in 2019. However, Biplab Goswami has denied this comparison outright.
Accusations of Copying from Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol
Previously, filmmaker Anant Mahadevan accused Lapata Ladies of copying his 1999 film, Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol. However, Biplab also refuted this accusation, stating there are no similarities between the stories.
