Indian cinema celebrates a moment of pride as Anuja, a short film supported by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Guneet Monga, earns a nomination for the Best Live Action Short Film category at the 2025 Academy Awards. This is the only Indian entry for the prestigious Oscars this year. The nominations were announced by Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott.
Story of Anuja
The film follows a 9-year-old girl named Anuja, who works in a garment factory in Delhi alongside her sister Palak (played by Ananya Shanbhag). Despite facing poverty, Anuja dreams of attending school. When she gets an unexpected opportunity, she must make a life-changing decision that affects her family’s future. The film beautifully captures themes of resilience, love, and the importance of education for girls.
Competing Against Top Films
Anuja is one of the five finalists selected from 180 qualifying films. It will compete with:
Alien
I’m Not a Robot
The Last Ranger
A Man Who Would Not Remain Silent
Powerful Team Behind Anuja
The film is directed by Adam J. Graves and produced by his wife, Suchitra Mattai. It is a collaboration with organizations like Salaam Baalak Trust, Shine Global, and Krushan Naik Films. The team worked closely with child welfare organizations to portray the challenges of working children in India authentically.
The cast includes Ananya Shanbhag, Sajda Pathan, and Nagesh Bhosle. Anuja previously won the top honor at the HollyShorts Film Festival in 2024.
Priyanka Chopra’s Reaction
Priyanka Chopra expressed her pride on Instagram, sharing the film’s poster and a clip. She wrote, “Yaaaay! Anuja is heading to the 2025 Oscars as a nominee for Best Live Action Short Film! Huge congratulations to Adam J. Graves and the team for highlighting the work of the Salaam Baalak Trust and the importance of education in children’s lives, especially for girls.”
Other Contributors
Two-time Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga and Mindy Kaling also supported the film. This marks Monga’s third Oscar nomination, following The Elephant Whisperers and Period: End of Sentence.
Streaming and Ceremony Details
Anuja will soon stream on Netflix. The 97th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will take place at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2025.
This nomination is a testament to Indian cinema’s global impact. Anuja brings attention to critical social issues while showcasing India’s storytelling talent.
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