Laapataa Ladies Writer Biplab Goswami Denies Plagiarism Claims Over Script Parallels: 'I Had Registered My...'

Biplab Goswami, the credited storywriter for Laapataa Ladies (2024), has expressed frustration over plagiarism accusations directed at his work. On Saturday, he took to Instagram and X to issue a statement, dismissing the claims as baseless. Social media users pointed out parallels between the Kiran Rao-directed film and Burqa City, a short film by Fabrice Bracq that began circulating at film festivals in 2019 – coincidentally, a year after Biplab finalized his script Two Brides.

Meanwhile, Fabrice asserted that he penned his short film in 2017, filmed it in 2018, and showcased it in 2019. In an interview with The Hindustan Times, Goswami said nobody bothered to get his version too, “I had got my story registered with the Screenwriters Association in 2014. I have proof, then the full script was registered in 2018.



Koi poocha bhi nahi mujhse. I didn’t know comparisons are being made with Burqa City until Saturday.” A post shared by Biplab Goswami (@biplabgoswamicinema) Social media users noticed striking similarities between Kiran Rao’s directorial venture and Burqa City, a short film by Fabrice Bracq that hit the film festival circuit in 2019 – a year after Goswami finalized his script.

In a conversation with IFP, Fabrice countered, stating that he wrote his short film in 2017, filmed it in 2018, and premiered it in 2019. Goswami further added, “Our Laapataa Ladies team had a chat about these allegations, sab soch rahe the arre yeh kya ho raha hai, everyone was stressed. As a writer, one’s credibility gets affected when something of this sort happens.

Kharab lagta hai, aur dukh iss baat pe hota hai ki koi pooch toh leta ek baar. I worked on my story for 10 years. The film’s team worked on it so much.

Koi aisa kuchh aake bol deta hai aur sabko lagta hai sahi hai, hawa ka rukh badal jaata hai. It’s very painful.” This isn’t the first time that someone has accused Laapataa Ladies of being ‘inspired.

’ Actor-filmmaker Ananth Mahadevan had earlier raised concerns about the striking resemblance to his 1999 movie Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol. Goswami addressed them too, saying, “I know about this a bit. Honestly, meri khud ki kahaani hai, it has no connection with any other story or novel.

Ananth ji ke saath koi lena dena nahi hai. When this too had broken out, I wanted someone to ask me too. There is no basis to these allegations.

” A post shared by Biplab Goswami (@biplabgoswamicinema) Meanwhile, in his interview with IFP, Fabrice Bracq said, “First of all, even before watching the film, I was surprised by how closely the pitch matched that of my short film. Then I watched the film, and I was both surprised and shocked to see that, although the story had been adapted to Indian culture, many aspects of my short were clearly present. Notably and this is by no means an exhaustive list – the kind, loving, naive husband who loses his wife, contrasted with the other husband who is violent and despicable.

The scene with the police officer is also striking: a corrupt, violent, and intimidating policeman surrounded by two sidekicks. Of course, there’s the moment with the photo of the veiled woman.” In the proof shared by Goswami, the same scene existed in the story registered with the SWA in 2014.

See Also: French Director 'Shocked' At Similarities Between Burqa City And Laapataa Ladies; 'Many Aspects Of My Story...

'.