‘Anuja’, the highly anticipated short film directed by Adam J. Graves, secures a prestigious nomination for Best Live Action Short at the 97th Academy Awards®. Following in the footsteps of the Oscar-winning documentary short The Elephant Whisperers, Anuja continues Netflix’s tradition of championing compelling stories from India on the global stage.
This marks the first Academy Award® nomination for director Adam J. Graves and producer Suchitra Mattai, further solidifying Netflix’s commitment to nurturing diverse voices and fresh talent.
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.
Reflecting on the nomination, director Adam J. Graves expressed, “ This is an extraordinary honor. Anuja began as a small passion project between filmmakers to showcase the resilience and strength of remarkable children, and I’m deeply grateful to the Academy for giving this story a global platform. Working with Sajda and Ananya has been a career highlight, and this recognition is a powerful reminder of the impact compassion and courage can have in inspiring change.”
Sharing her thoughts on the nomination, Suchitra Mattai remarked, “Being part of Anuja has been an incredible journey, and I’m honored to share this story with the world. Through our partnership with Salaam Baalak Trust, we’ve been able to provide a platform for the voices of working children and highlight the incredible work this organization does to support and uplift these kids. It’s been a privilege to tell such an impactful story, and I hope it inspires greater awareness and action to empower these remarkable young lives”
Talking about this prestigious moment, Guneet Monga Kapoor said, “Incredibly honoured for this nomination at the 97th Oscars. It is a privilege to share the story of Anuja, representing the work of Salaam Baalak Trust India – the voice of countless youth who bravely face formidable circumstances everyday. Even through unimaginable odds, they show us there is reason to smile. Director Adam J. Graves and Producer Suchitra Mattai have poured all of their hearts into this. This nomination is a testament to how we can cross borders, collaborate, and bring honest stories to life, alongside the support of some of the most powerful global icons like Mindy Kaling and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Thank you for helping bring Anuja’s message to the global stage. Can’t wait for the world to experience the joy of watching Anuja on Netflix.”
Expressing her excitement on the nomination, Priyanka Chopra Jonas shared, “‘Anuja’ being nominated for an Oscar in the Best Live Action Short Film category is such an incredible moment. This film is a beautiful reminder of the power of storytelling—how it can shine a light on love, family, and resilience in the most authentic way. I’m so proud of Adam J. Graves for his vision and deeply moved by the brilliant performances of Sajda Pathan and Ananya Shanbhag, who have poured their hearts into bringing these characters to life. It’s an honor for me to be part of this journey alongside our amazing partners—Suchitra Mattai Studio, Mindy Kaling, Guneet Monga Kapoor, and Shine Global. Telling meaningful stories that resonate with audiences is what drives us, and I’m beyond thrilled to see ‘Anuja’ receive this well-deserved recognition.”
Mindy Kaling , sharing her excitement about the Oscar nomination for Anuja said, “I have been a producer for almost twenty years, but producing Anuja has been a highlight of my career. I feel so lucky to be part of this joyous story of two girls with big dreams and ambitions, but who are overlooked – my favorite kind of heroines! I’m so grateful to Adam Graves and Suchitra Mattai for inviting me and Kaling International on this journey. I also don’t sleep so it was nice to actually be doing something fun at 5:30 this morning.”
Monika Shergill, VP – Content, Netflix India on the nomination , “It is an honor to bring a beautiful, homegrown film like Anuja to audiences around the world. We hope this powerful story of resilience and redemption resonates with hearts everywhere, and brings India another Oscar after The Elephant Whisperers. Congratulations to the incredible team behind this heartening tale of sisterhood—Suchitra Mattai, Adam J. Graves, Guneet Monga Kapoor, Mindy Kaling, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.”
Netflix received the most nominations for an individual studio with the following 18 nominations across 6 titles. including a record-breaking 13 for Emilia Perez, the most-nominated film of 2025.
As Anuja prepares to stream soon on Netflix, it reinforces the platform’s unwavering commitment to spotlighting India’s rich storytelling tradition on the world’s biggest stage.
NETFLIX NOMINATIONS BY TITLE:
Emilia Pérez – 13
Maria – 1
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl – 1
The Only Girl in the Orchestra – 1
Anuja – 1
The Six Triple Eight -1
BEST PICTURE
Emilia Pérez
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
Emilia Pérez
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
The Only Girl in the Orchestra
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
Anuja
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
DIRECTING
Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard in collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Lea Mysius and Nicolas Livecchi
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)
Emilia Pérez, Clément Ducol and Camille
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)
“El Mal”, Emilia Pérez
“The Journey”, The Six Triple Eight
“Mi Camino”, Emilia Pérez
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Emilia Pérez, Paul Guilhaume
Maria, Ed Lachman
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Emilia Pérez
FILM EDITING
Emilia Pérez, Juliette Welfling
SOUND
Emilia Pérez
Set to stream soon exclusively on Netflix, catch the Oscar nominated short film Anuja
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.
