Hyderabad:The fame of India's Oscar Hopeful, Laapataa Ladies, appears to have become synonymous with the rise of Biplab Goswami, the screenwriter of the Kiran Rao-directed movie. The low-budget Bollywood movie chronicles the misadventures of two young brides, who get lost on the same train.
In a narrative that defies conventional boundaries, Biplab Goswami, a native of Agartala, Tripura, is basking in the 'newfound fame in the world of cinema,' captivating audiences globally with his poignant storytelling.
Goswami's journey from the serene landscapes of Tripura to the vibrant realm of Bollywood is a fairytale journey. Set in the era of pre-technology hit India when basic technology was missing, Laapataa Ladies is written by Biplab Goswami. The story which revolves around the lives of three people - two brides and a groom - and how their life gets affected when the groom mistakenly brings home the wrong bride, is a small film but serves a big purpose. Yoking together sequences capturing confusion, stigmas, and societal reflections and poignantly narrating the tale has been the artistry of the screenwriter.
ETV Bharat catches up with Goswami in a private conversation.
ETV Bharat: How does it feel after you heard about Laapataa Ladies making an Oscar entry?
Biplab: I was overjoyed after hearing about the Oscar entry. I was, however, confident that the movie has the potential to get applause not only in India but also abroad. The primary reason is my minute treatment of the plot, stitching together small or big sequences. I was sure that the interesting content of the film would resonate with audiences and I'm happy that it clicked.
ETV Bharat: When did you start writing the synopsis of Laapata Ladies?
Biplab: Actually, I ideated and wrote the synopsis of the movie about 10 years ago. After writing 25 scenes, I took time to finetune it. I visited several rural places and noticed each paraphernalia and events of rural life. I did in-depth research on nuances of ruralites' clothing patterns, exchange of words, and their expressions to build the world for this story. After a thorough research, I came up with a satisfactory story for reel adaptation.
ETV Bharat - How did Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan get the story of Laapataa Ladies?
Biplab: About 5-6 years ago, I happened to take part in a competition called Global Search for Indian Scriptwriters which invited scripts for Hindi films. The incident took place at the end of 2018. Out of nearly 4,000 scripts, my script came second. Aamir Khan, Juhi Chaturvedi, Anjum Rajabali and Rajkumar Hirani, who were the jury members, liked my script of this movie.