Guneet Monga’s Short Film On Oscar Shortlist

India-West News Desk

LOS ANGELES, CA — India’s aspirations for the 2025 Oscars now rest on Anuja, a live-action short film produced by Guneet Monga Kapoor, which has been shortlisted in the prestigious Best Live-Action Short Film category.

Anuja, co-produced by Monga, Adam J. Graves, and Suchitra Mattai, highlights the pressing issue of child labor in the garment industry. The film tells the poignant story of a gifted 9-year-old girl, Anuja (played by Sajda Pathan), who works in a garment factory in New Delhi. When given a rare opportunity to attend school, she faces a heart-wrenching decision that could shape her future and that of her sister, Palak (Ananya Shanbhag).

Monga, a trailblazer in Indian cinema, marks her third Oscar nomination with Anuja. Her previous productions, The Elephant Whisperers and Period: End of Sentence, won Oscars, solidifying her place as a significant force in bringing Indian stories to the global stage.

The film, directed by Graves, was developed in collaboration with Salaam Baalak Trust, an India-based non-profit that supports street children. Founded by Dr. Praveen Nair, the trust was inspired by Mira Nair’s film Salaam Bombay!, which exposed the harsh realities of street life for children in India. Pathan, who portrays Anuja, brings her personal experiences to the role, as she herself resides in an SBT home, which provides shelter and education to girls who once lived on the streets.

Anuja also stars Nagesh Bhonsle, known for his role in Hotel Mumbai, along with a talented production team including Krushan Naik, Aaron Kopp, and Alexandra Blaney, co-CEO of Shine Global.