When a gifted 9-year-old girl, Anuja (Sajda Pathan), who works in a garment factory in Delhi, India is offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to attend school, she is forced to make a heart-wrenching decision that will determine her and her sister Palak’s (Ananya Shanbhag) fate.
Impact
Anuja explores themes of child labor and girls’ education:
- 1 in 10 children worldwide is in child labor
- In the beginning of 2020, a total of 160 million children were in child labour – an increase for the first time in 20 years
- 79 million children were in hazardous work that directly endangers their health, safety and moral development.
- Worldwide, 129 million girls are out of school.
- When we invest in girls’ secondary education:
- The lifetime earnings of girls dramatically increase
- National growth rates rise
- Child marriage rates decline
- Child mortality rates fall
- Maternal mortality rates fall
- Child stunting drops
The film was developed in association with the India-based non-profit, Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT), founded by Dr. Praveen Nair. After her daughter Mira Nair’s film Salaam Bombay! exposed the harsh conditions of children living on the streets, Dr. Nair was motivated to make a difference in the lives of street and working children in Delhi.
Lead actress Pathan resides in an SBT home that provides shelter and education for girls formerly living on the street and brings her personal experience and passion for acting to the role.
WINNER Grand Prize 2024 New York International Film Festival
WINNER Audience Award Short Film 2024 Montclair Film Festival
Official Selection 2024 deadCenter Film Festival
Official Selection 2024 Indy Shorts International Film Festival
Official Selection 2024 Yellow Barn Film Festival
Official Selection 2024 Newport Beach Film Festival
Official Selection 2024 Tasveer Film Festival
Official Selection 2024 Naples International Film Festival
Official Selection 2024 Sulmona International Film Festival
Official Selection 2024 St. Louis International Film Festival
Official Selection 2024 Foyle Film Festival
Official Selection 2024 HollyShorts London Film Festival
Credits
CAST
Sajda Pathan – Anuja
Ananya Shanbhag – Palak
Nagesh Bhonsle – Mr. Verma
Gulshan Walia – Mr. Mishra
Writer & director
Adam J. Graves
Producers
Suchitra Mattai
Krushan Naik
Aaron Kopp
Ksheetij Saini
Alexandra Blaney
Executive Producer
Michael Graves
Guneet Monga Kapoor
Co-Executive Producers
Susan MacLaury
Albie Hecht
Cinematographer
Akash Raje
EditorS
Krushan Naik
Adam J. Graves
Community Consultants
Sunita Bhadauria
Devika Sharma
Pankaj Gupta
ORIGINAL MUSIC
Fabrizio Mancinelli
Produced in association with Shine Global
