Anuja

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?

Road to the Oscars 2025: this is nominated in 1 category best short film.

Anuja was a charming look into a sad truth. Knowing that this is real and that a foundation that helps people like Anuja exist makes you think about how our world is designed. Nonetheless we get a charming little slice of life movie with a great ending.

2 sisters who lost their parents work at a bag factory. One of the sisters are given the opportunity to start in school for only 400 rupees. The sisters try to get the money.

I really liked the cute and believable sisterhood in this movie. Anuja and Palak act believable for their age and their relation and that helps the movie a lot. This is also just a well-made film through and through.

This is a hard truth movie. While it is packed with optimism as you kind of have to in a situation like this, it is hard to think that this is something that happens every day.

I really liked the open ended ending of this movie. Really showing the complexity of the situation the sisters are in. This is not just a moral easy question, it´s hard because you know what the cost is for all the lives involved and if that is something that happens every day it´s hard.

Overall I was charmed by this short. It´s well made and good. It is the most clean Oscar film I have watched so far, but somehow that works for it. It´s nothing insane or special, just competent.

Oscar Predictions: Political undertones, check. When it comes to the academy they like to make a political statement with their choice sometimes and in this case this check a box, but shorts like "A lien"(2022) and "I´m not a robot"(2023) dies the same with a more pro what we want in America angel. This is the winner so far to me. The most clean of the short, pure Oscar bait but it works and it´s good. I root for this!

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.

Has it got a good message? Yeah, kind of. Does it move me to act upon it? Not really. The movie is powerful for a 23-minute runtime, but it is not powerful enough to stir me. It is rather minimal and pretty in its own little way, but nothing honestly stood out to me about the work. It ends posing a dilemma-a rather huge one at that-but the rest of it? Bland. At least to me it was.

The acting is pretty fine. The characters portrayed have some depth. The screenplay is quite intelligent, to which the shots do sufficient justice. It wouldn't be a "10/10 I recommend," but one could give it a chance.

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.