Anuja

A comparably shorter review should suffice for this extremely well made short film of 20 minutes or so. It transmits its message with amazing artistic clarity and leaves a strong impact on the audience through the sheer simplicity of its narrative. It has an authentic feel and vibe to it. Go ahead and watch it.

The plot is fairly simple. Anuja is a nine year old girl from the slums who works in a garment factory along with her elder sister. They share an affectionate bond and seek happiness from small things of everyday life. Watch them eating sweets or watching a movie over popcorn. Anuja is good in maths and her factory manager offers her a better paying position in his office. At around the same time the local school teacher asks her to join school. She has to now choose money through employment or education through school. A tough choice for her to make.

Everything about this movie is first rate without doubt and no surprises if it picks up the Oscar next month.

Anuja has been attracting a lot of attention recently due to its Oscar shortlisting and Priyanka Chopra's fame. As expected, it's a heart-wrenching story that reflects the struggle of a 9-year-old girl who is not even mature enough to make those choices. Perhaps that uncertainty is what makes it special.

The short film tells the story of a nine-year-old girl, Anuja (Sajda Pathan), who works in a factory. When questioned about her age by a school teacher who wants to take the opportunity to help her get an education, she claims that she is 14. Despite lying to his face, the teacher still gives her the choice to come back to school and take her exam. Anuja has a caring sister, Palak (Ananya Shanbhag), who is the only person Anuja might listen to.

Palak wants Anuja to become educated and build a bright future that she couldn't achieve for herself, which is also what their mother desired. Yet, she is unable to persuade Anuja to go and take the exam, but who knows if Anuja might listen to her. As promised to her sister, Anuja has to go to the exam, albeit reluctantly. At the same time, the factory owner offers her a job after noticing her remarkable talent for math. Will Anuja be able to make a choice at such a young age?

Anuja ends abruptly, feeling somewhat incomplete, but that uncertainty about Anuja's character actually makes it a complete film. It runs for 20-21 minutes and, therefore, feels short, which may explain why I couldn't feel any significant impact. Yet, it is absorbing enough to make you think about it for a moment.

The main reason for this age is that the story resonates with millions of girls across the world. They are too small to make choices, and maybe that's why they have remained backward and poor for years. Some girls don't even get that rare chance, and those who do fail to understand what it means. There is not much special about it other than mirroring some bitter facts of society.

Sajda Pathan was natural, and it is not a typical act that can be judged as a "performance." She is not even an actor, so it would be unfair to assess her acting. It's all about her screen presence, and the same goes for Ananya Shanbhag. Nagesh Bhosle was fine as the factory owner, and Gulshan Walia was decent in the two or three frames in which he appears. The rest of the cast hardly appears enough to be noticed.

Adam Graves' simple formula of human emotions without dramatic conflicts makes it a decent watch. There is a lot of hype surrounding this project in India, so I'd like to say, "cool down, guys. There is nothing out there for you to hype." Watch Anuja just to understand the problem that has existed for years, and many of us are already familiar with it. We have had many independent shorts and documentaries about the same. It's just that one "burning" moment at the end that might stay with you. You can skip the rest of the show, but what's there to skip in 20 minutes?

An exceptional short that focuses on child labour in India. The writing was so good from the starting point until the last shot. The ending is left for us to choose what Anuja should do. Obviously she should go attend that exam. That moment could be life changing.

This short also depicts sisterhood, moral agency and difficult choices born of poverty.

The Cinematography of this short creates a very authentic visual that is raw and natural. Kudos to Akash Raje.

The acting performances were top-notch. Sajda Pathan was outstanding. A real-life former child laborer discovered by the Salaam Baalak Trust. Huge respect. Ananya Shanbhag was amazing too. A real-life factory worker. Huge respect to her too.

Excellent short but the ending could have been straight forward though so that many people get motivated from it.

The short film seems even shorter than it is, because it is so breathtaking. The girls are adorable and their life situation heartfelt. I needed to see this, this part of the world is not unknown to me, but it isn't easy to visualise and understand it. Not even sure I ever really can? It shows true love between sisters and their happiness, while working and living in low standard jobs and housing.

The opportunity offered to the youngest, to step out of her current situation might seem logical to every adult, but it isn't for the young child. Influenced by her employer and the love for her sister makes her decision to leave not easy.

The cliffhangers in the end of the film are necessary, but tough to handle. I want to know what will happen to both the sisters, but I will have ot imagine it for myself. And that power. That makes this movie impact the one who is watching. We have to know, we have to understand, and that is something we have to do by watching actively, and contemplate by ourselves. Dive into the mind of the orphin, what will she do?

I think it's important that people from the west see movies or stories like this. Not to feel sorry or superior but It gives a better understanding of the life of poor people in India. For many people here in the west it's very hard to understand why the people are in a situation like this and stories like this help to get an idea of true life India and how hard it can be for the not fortunate ones. Helping the poor in India might increase if more people with money and a conscience would understand. Thank you for this movie and your awesome work. All the best to the organisation and its protégés!