Pranav Birje | Senior Correspondent
A heartwarming tale of two sisters navigating adversity, Anuja brings its Oscar-nominated storytelling to Netflix on 5th February 2025
Mumbai, 30th January 2025: Netflix is delighted to announce that the Oscar-nominated live action short film ‘Anuja’ will premiere on February 5, 2025, bringing this poignant and inspiring story to a global audience across 190 countries. Crafted by the husband-and-wife duo Adam J. Graves (Director, Producer) and Suchitra Mattai (Producer), Anuja offers a hopeful and heartfelt tale of resilience, love, and opportunity amidst hardship.
The trailer follows Anuja, a gifted nine-year-old girl, and her seventeen-year-old sister, Palak, as they labor in a back-alley garment factory. When a compassionate teacher offers Anuja the chance to attend an elite boarding school, the sisters face challenges that test their bond and resilience, culminating in a life-altering decision—one faced by countless young girls worldwide.
Expressing her excitement, Mindy Kaling, producer of Anuja, shared, _”It is a dream come true to have Anuja on Netflix, where it can be seen by the worldwide audience it deserves. I’m so grateful to Bela Bajaria and Netflix India for seeing what I saw in this beautiful short film!”_
Adam J. Graves added, _“Suchitra and I are incredibly grateful that Anuja has found a home on Netflix. This story of hope was brought to life through collaboration with so many talented and passionate people. And we are thrilled that the results of our collective dedication can finally be enjoyed by audiences around the world.”_
Anuja has the backing of a remarkable team of producers: Suchitra Mattai, Mindy Kaling, Guneet Monga Kapoor, Krushan Naik, Aaron Kopp, Devananda Graves, Michael Graves, Ksheetij Saini and Alexandra Blaney. Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Anita Bhatia are on board as Executive Producers. Co-Executive Producers include Archana Jain, Susan MacLaury, Albie Hecht. The film’s authenticity is deeply rooted in collaboration with Mira Nair’s Salaam Baalak Trust, a nonprofit empowering street and working children, with lead actor Sajda Pathan, herself a beneficiary, delivering a stellar performance.
With its Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short, Anuja has already captured global attention. Now, with its Netflix debut on 5th February 2025, this powerful story of sisterhood and hope is poised to leave an even greater impact.
Don’t miss the chance to stream this remarkable short, on 5th February, exclusively on Netflix.
PRODUCTION: Graves Films, Shine Global Inc, Krushan Naik Films, and Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT)
DIRECTOR/WRITER: Adam J. Graves
WRITER: Adam J. Graves
PRODUCERS: Suchitra Mattai, Mindy Kaling, Guneet Monga Kapoor, Krushan Naik, Aaron Kopp, Devananda Graves, Michael Graves, Ksheetij Saini, Alexandra Blaney
KEY CREATIVES: Editor Krushan Naik, Assistant Director Ksheetij Saini, Director of Photography Akash Raje, Music Fabrizio Mancinelli
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Micheal Graves and Anita Bhatia
KEY CAST: Ananya Shanbhag (Palak), Sajda Pathan (Anuja), Nagesh Bhosle (Mr. Verma)
PRODUCTION BLOCK: ANUJA was produced in partnership with the Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT), a nonprofit founded by the family of renowned director Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding), SHINE GLOBAL, the production company behind Emmy and Academy Award-winning films such as War/Dance (2007) and Inocente (2012), and Krushan Naik Films.