Oscar Nominations 2025: Indian cinema will have representation at the Oscars this year as Anuja, a short film backed by Guneet Monga and Priyanka Chopra, has earned a nomination in the Best Live Action Short Film category.
Anuja in the Oscars
The nominations for the 97th Academy Awards were announced on Thursday by Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott.
In the Best Live Action Short Film category, five films emerged from a pool of 180 contenders to compete for the prestigious trophy. Anuja is nominated alongside Alien, I’m Not a Robot, The Last Ranger, and A Man Who Would Not Remain Silent.
Short on time, big on talent, here are this year’s nominees for Live Action Short Film. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/Wx0TZIpUen
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 23, 2025
This marks Guneet Monga’s third Oscar nomination. Her previous projects, The Elephant Whisperers and Period: End of Sentence, both won Oscars, earning accolades for Indian cinema.
Conan O’Brien is set to host the 2025 Oscars for the first time. The 97th Academy Awards will take place on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
About
The story revolves around a nine-year-old girl, the titular Anuja, who works in a back-alley garment factory alongside her older sister, Palak. The narrative explores the young protagonist’s journey as she grapples with a decision that could shape her future and her family’s fate. Director Adam J. Graves described the film as “a heartfelt tribute to the resilience and untold stories of working children.”
Directed by Adam J. Graves, Anuja will stream on Netflix. The film is produced by Graves’ wife, Suchitra Mattai, and is backed by Priyanka Chopra, Mindy Kaling, and Academy Award-winner Guneet Monga.
Anuja was made in collaboration with the Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT), a non-profit founded by Mira Nair’s family to support street and working children. The project also partnered with Shine Global—known for Academy Award-winning films War/Dance (2007) and Inocente (2012)—and Krushan Naik Films.
The film stars Ananya Shanbhag, Sajda Pathan, and Nagesh Bhosle. The release date for Anuja is yet to be announced.
