Anuja Earns Oscar 2025 Nomination: A Proud Moment for Indian Cinema

In a groundbreaking achievement for Indian cinema, Anuja, produced by Guneet Monga and Priyanka Chopra, has earned a nomination in the Best Live Action Short Film category at the 97th Academy Awards. The Oscars 2025 ceremony will be held on March 2 at the prestigious Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with Conan O’Brien hosting the event.

Anuja is a poignant tale of the nine-year-old girl, Anuja, and her elder sister, Palak, who toil day in and day out in a dingy garment factory in a back alley. The short film touches on their plight and unbreakable resilience while focusing on the bitter truth of child labor with hope and perseverance. The story, heart-wrenching yet inspiring, has struck a chord in the hearts of people around the world and proved that Indian storytelling can work wonders on the global platform.

The film features an exceptional production crew, such as the Oscar-winning director of the documentary The Elephant Whisperers, 2023, Guneet Monga, and Global icon Priyanka Chopra, who’s been a vigorous Indian cinema booster. Such great names as those of Suchitra Mattai, Mindy Kaling, Krushan Naik, and Alexandra Blaney appear in production credits, along with executive producers Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Anita Bhatia.

The cast includes promising talents such as Ananya Shanbhag, Sajda Pathan, and veteran actor Nagesh Bhosle, who bring the story to life with powerful performances.

Ahead of the announcement of Oscar nominations, Guneet Monga had expressed pride in the journey of Anuja. Writing a heartfelt message to her team, she stated, “Hours before the Oscar nominations with the team Anuja. It is it! Anuja is such a beautiful, heart-wrenching film. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without this bunch. Here’s to our labor of love! See you at the Oscars!

Mindy Kaling, another producer on the film, said, “Anuja is a story that means so much to me — it’s powerful, hopeful, and full of life, just like the incredible young girls it represents. The film sheds light on crucial issues while celebrating resilience, humor, and hope.”

This has become a moment of pride for Indian cinema, which is now rapidly growing globally. Netflix has revealed that it is going to release Anuja on its platform soon, and through this, the film shall reach hundreds of thousands more viewers and get them to talk about the issues it raises and the world it tries to believe in.

This nomination also underlines Priyanka Chopra and Guneet Monga’s shared vision of promoting meaningful, diverse narratives that resonate with audiences globally.

As India is gearing up to witness the 97th Academy Awards, the nomination of Anuja is a testament to how good talent and even better storytelling is coming from the country. With Guneet Monga already on an Oscar-winning streak and Priyanka Chopra being steadfastly dedicated to cinema with impact, Anuja talks about the heart and soul of Indian filmmaking.

All eyes are now on March 2, as the world waits to see if Anuja will bring home the coveted Oscar, adding yet another feather to Indian cinema’s illustrious cap.