Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 30: Netflix has announced that the Oscar-nominated Indian short film Anuja will be available for streaming starting February 5. The streaming platform made the announcement through its official Instagram account, sharing the caption: “ANUJA is a story of resilience, sisterhood, and hope. The Academy Award Nominated Live Action Short Film comes to Netflix February 5.”
Directed by Adam J. Graves, Anuja has earned a nomination for Best Live Action Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards. The film is competing against other notable contenders such as Alien, I’m Not a Robot, The Last Ranger, and A Man Who Would Not Remain Silent. The Oscar nominations were revealed on January 23 by Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott.
The story of Anuja revolves around a nine-year-old girl named Anuja, who works alongside her older sister Palak in a back-alley garment factory. The plot focuses on Anuja as she faces a life-altering decision that will shape both her future and her family’s fate.
The film has garnered significant attention and support from notable figures, including Priyanka Chopra and Guneet Monga. Priyanka Chopra, one of the film’s backers, praised the project, saying, “This beautiful film shines a spotlight on a subject that affects millions of children around the world, who are faced with the impossible decision between a future they cannot yet see and the immediate realities of their present.”
She continued, “Anuja is a poignant, thought-provoking piece that makes us reflect deeply on the power of choices and how they shape the course of our lives. I am immensely proud to be associated with such a phenomenal and impactful project.”
Guneet Monga, one of the film’s producers, expressed her excitement as well, saying, “‘Anuja’ is a story of unparalleled courage, a film made with a lot of heart. Director Adam J. Graves delivers a message through an empowered and entertaining lens.”
Monga also highlighted her involvement in the film, sharing, “I’m honored to be part of the journey ahead, alongside Producers Mindy Kaling, Suchitra Mattai, and Krushan Naik, and now one of the most powerful Brown voices to champion our story—Priyanka Chopra Jonas.”
For Guneet Monga, Anuja marks her third Oscar nomination. Her previous projects, The Elephant Whisperers and Period: End of Sentence, both won Academy Awards.