India’s Oscar aspirations for the 2025 Academy Awards now rest on Anuja, a live-action short film produced by Guneet Monga. This follows the disappointment of Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies, which did not advance in the Best International Feature Film category. On Tuesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the shortlists for 10 categories for the upcoming 97th Oscars, and while Laapataa Ladies was eliminated, Anuja remains in the race in the Best Live-Action Short Film category.
Anuja, which highlights the pressing issue of child labour in the garment industry, features actor Nagesh Bhonsle in a prominent role. This marks Guneet Monga’s third Oscar nomination, following the success of her previous projects, The Elephant Whisperers and Period: End of Sentence, both of which won Oscars, putting Indian cinema in the spotlight.
Along with Anuja, Santosh, a British-Indian film directed by Sandhya Suri, also continues its Oscar journey. Featuring actress Shahana Goswami, Santosh is the official UK entry and premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
The Academy also announced 30 films shortlisted for the Best Live Action Short and Best Animated Short categories, with other notable contenders including Clodagh, The Compatriot, Crust, Dovecote, Edge of Space, and The Ice Cream Man.