Blog

Guneet Monga has finally Announced that Her movie ‘Anuja’ has Made it to the Oscars 2025 Shortlist

Sanjana Bailwal2 years ago2 years ago417 mins

Anuja by Guneet Monga has been selected in the category of Best Short Film (Live Action). The film shows the plight of child labourers in the garments industry.

Although Laapataa Ladies by Kiran Rao was the official Indian entry for Best International Feature Film, sadly, it did not reach the Oscars 2025 shortlist, but India’s hopes for recognition remain alive. Ever since Guneet Monga Kapoor’s Anuja made it to the shortlist, the team has been rejoicing over the news.

This recognition is, in their view, the testimony to the strength and impact of their moving story. Anuja has been shortlisted for the Best Live-Action Short Film category for the upcoming Oscars, to be held in 2025.

Team Anuja Reacts

Producer Guneet is elated that there is a story about two sisters from India in the race at the Oscars.

“Being shortlisted for Oscars is a moment of great pride. Anuja is a deeply personal tale of sisters living life and has in turn celebrated the unwavering hope and resilience of the human spirit. It has been an honor to promote the cause as an executive producer and to part of its wonderful journey with the brilliant filmmakers Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai and powerful performances by Sajda Pathan and Ananya Shanbhag. This, therefore, becomes recognition to the team and, so, to the strength of this moving story,” she said in a statement.

It’s a huge honor for Adam, the director of the film, to have such honorable company. According to him, this movie is a collaboration between so many talented and passionate people.

“For me, the big stars are our two Sajda and Ananya. We completely knew they delivered really special performances, but nothing could be more satisfying than knowing that a film touches an audience emotionally and also draws attention to an important issue like child labour,” said Adam, who had also written the film.

About Film ‘ANUJA’

Anuja tells the story of a nine-year-old girl called Anuja, who has an elder sister, Palak (essayed by Ananya Shanbhag), who works with Anuja in a back-alley garment factory in New Delhi, India. The story captures how Anuja gets an opportunity to attend an elite boarding school when her teacher comes to visit the factory.

This film portrays the maladaptive realities of child labour in the garment industry and also stars actor Nagesh Bhonsle in one of the important roles.

It is described as “a stirring tale of two sisters struggling to find joy and opportunity in a world intent on their exploitation and exclusion.” The lead role is played by Sajda Pathan, a resident of a SBT center that provides a home for girls formerly living on the streets of Delhi.

The film is produced by Mindy Kaling, Suchitra Mattai, Krushan Naik, Aaron Kopp, Ksheetij Saini, Alexandra Blaney, and Devananda Graves. Guneet acts as the executive producer for this project along with Michael Graves.

Apart from Anuja, another Film that Remains in the Oscars Race

For Monga, this marks her third nomination at the Oscars. She has already had two of her earlier projects, The Elephant Whisperers and Period: End of Sentence, winning an Oscar apiece, crowning glory to Indian cinema. This year’s Oscars race includes another film-Anuja along with Santosh-a British-Indian film directed by Sandhya Suri-that remains in the competition for Oscars. Featuring actor Shahana Goswami, Santosh is the UK’s official entry to the Oscars. The film previously screened early this year in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival.

Thirty shortlisted films have been announced by The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, competing for the Best Live Action Short and Best Animated Short Oscar. Other shortlisted contenders are Clodagh, The Compatriot, Crust, Dovecote, Edge of Space, and The Ice Cream Man.

Unlock the secrets of Bollywood with in-depth articles and insider analyses only on BollywoodNetWorth.com!

Get the latest scoop—like, share, and follow us on Facebook @BollywoodNetWorth to stay in the loop!

Don’t miss a beat—follow us on Instagram @BollywoodNetWorth! for exclusive updates and all things Bollywood!