Director-producer-screenwriter Kiran Rao on Friday attended the screening of her film ‘Laapataa Ladies’ at the Supreme Court of India. “It fills my heart with immense pride to see ‘Laapataa Ladies’ making history by being screened at the Supreme Court of India,” she said.
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NEW DELHI: Director, producer, and screenwriter Kiran Rao attended a historic screening of her film “Laapataa Ladies” at the Supreme Court of India on Friday. Speaking to reporters before the screening, Rao expressed her deep honor and pride that the apex court had chosen her film to be part of the events commemorating the 75th year of its establishment.
“It fills my heart with immense pride to see ‘Laapataa Ladies’ making history by being screened at the Supreme Court of India. I am deeply grateful to the honourable Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud for this rare honour,”
-she said.
Kiran Rao further reflected on the film’s journey and the overwhelming reception it has received.
“From the beginning, we had hoped that the story of Phool and Jaya would resonate deeply, but the outpouring of love from audiences has been nothing short of extraordinary, far exceeding our expectations. Thank you all for giving our film such love and support,”
-she remarked, as per a statement released by her team.
Before the screening, Kiran Rao was seen leaving Court No. 1 of the Supreme Court after attending a hearing. Actor Aamir Khan, who was also present for the court proceedings, was warmly welcomed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.
The Chief Justice humorously acknowledged Khan’s presence by saying,
“I don’t want a stampede in the court, but we welcome Mr Aamir Khan who is here for the screening of the film.”
Khan, who sat in the front row of the court, observed the proceedings for about 30 minutes. The film’s screening was specifically organized for the judges of the Supreme Court, their spouses, and members of the registry. “Laapataa Ladies,” which revolves around the theme of gender equality, was shown in the auditorium of the Supreme Court’s administrative building complex.
The film, featuring Ravi Kishan, Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ratna, and Sparsh Shrivastav in key roles, had previously premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2023, where it received a standing ovation.
“As part of the activities organized during the seventy-fifth year of the establishment of the Supreme Court of India, the movie ‘Laapataa Ladies’, which is based on the theme of gender equality, will be screened on Friday, August 9, 2024, in the Auditorium, C-Block, Administrative Building Complex. Kiran Rao, who has directed the movie, and Aamir Khan, the producer, will also be present during the screening,”
-stated the official circular.
The exclusive screening was reportedly arranged on the suggestion of Chief Justice Chandrachud’s wife, Kalpana Das. After watching the film, she recommended it to her husband, believing that its powerful message on gender sensitization would resonate with the entire staff of the Supreme Court.
Coincidentally, the screening aligns with the Supreme Court’s year-long gender sensitization program in its 75th year.
The event in the Chief Justice’s courtroom, known as the most ornate and largest among all SC courtrooms, was a sight to behold. With a dozen seats cordoned off with barricade tape, Kiran Rao, dressed in a blue saree over a white top, and Aamir Khan, sporting a printed kurta, along with half a dozen of their associates, were seen intently watching the proceedings before the CJI and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.
Security was heightened to prevent any fan mobbing, though the courtroom’s focus remained on the legal proceedings. However, courtroom cameras, typically trained on the lawyers, found themselves drawn to Khan and Rao, occasionally obscuring the arguing petitioner’s counsel from view.
After about an hour, Aamir Khan exited the courtroom, leaving Rao and a few others to continue observing the proceedings until 4 pm. The film screening was scheduled to begin at 4:15 pm and conclude by 6:20 pm.
Following the screening, the Supreme Court registry reported that the judges engaged in a brief 15-20 minute interaction with Khan and Rao.
However, some judges chose not to attend, citing ethical concerns over possible future cases involving the film or its creators that might be challenged in the Supreme Court.
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