The nominations for the 97th Academy Awards were announced on Thursday. While fans were disappointed to know that All We Imagine As Light and Santosh didn’t make the cut, they celebrated Anuja being nominated in the Best Live Action Short Film category. Based in Delhi, Anuja is co-produced by powerhouses Priyanka Chopra, Mindy Kaling, and Guneet Monga. As they celebrated the nominations on their official social media handles, netizens have been curious about the 9-year-old actress Sajda Pathan.
Anuja showcases the story of a gifted 9-year-old girl, who is torn between working in a factory alongside her sister or pursuing an education which will change their future. While Pathan essays the titular role, Ananya Shanbhag plays the role of her sister. Co-directed by Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai, the film delves deeper into the reality faced by many such children, who are made to work for a living and forgo education.
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As reported by New18, the film mirrors the reality Sajda has lived through. She was rescued from child labour by the Salaam Baalak Trust in Delhi. The child actor has overcome many odds to make her mark in films. For those who don’t know, Anuj is Sajda’s second film. She made her debut in the French movie The Braid (La Tresse). Directed by Laetitia Colombani, Sajda shared the screen with Mia Maelzer in the film.
Speaking about the Salaam Baalak Trust, it was founded in 1988 using proceeds from Mira Nair’s Oscar-nominated film Salaam Bombay. The trust has played a pivotal role in her life. Apart from rescuing her from child labour, they also provided her with shelter at their SBT Day Care Center.
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The Oscars 2025 will air live on March 2nd at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Apart from Anuja, A Lien, I’m Not a Robot, The Last Ranger, and The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent are also a part of the Best Live Action Short Film category. Fans are waiting with baited breath to know which film will win the trophy.
Anuja will be available for streaming on Netflix, later this year.