Denver Professor’s Film Nominated for Oscar: A Tale of Child Labor and Love

DENVER, Colo. — A film directed by Dr. Adam Graves, a professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver, has been nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Live-Action Short Film. The film, titled “Anuja,” tells a poignant story about child labor and sisterhood within a brief 22-minute runtime.

“Anuja,” which translates to ‘younger sister’ in Hindi, is set in a garment factory in New Delhi and follows the lives of two young sisters. The film, which features Hindi-speaking actors, is accessible to a wider audience thanks to English subtitles. Graves shared with Colorado Matters that he has strong ties to India, having lived there and extensively studied its culture and history.

Graves and his team produced the film during the COVID-19 pandemic, inspired in part by news reports regarding supply chain disruptions. “Most of that press coverage was focused on the consumer end of the supply chain, and we were thinking more about the production side,” Graves explained. This shift in focus led him to delve into research about labor issues, particularly child labor.

Graves was shocked to discover that one in ten children globally is involved in child labor, equivalent to nearly half the population of the United States. “We wanted to take that statistic and put flesh on it,” he said. “The aim was to create an opportunity for audiences to connect more empathetically with those children.” To achieve this, Graves sought to engage directly with affected children through organizations like Salaam Baalak Trust, which supports street kids and child labor victims in New Delhi.

“We realized that these kids were full of energy and mischief, and all these things that are quite universal to childhood,” Graves noted. “We decided we wanted to pay tribute to that aspect of their spirit so that we wouldn’t be just telling a story about passive victims.”

Among the children cast, 9-year-old Sajda Pathan, who plays Anuja, has a story that parallels that of her character. Pathan, previously starred in a French film and was rescued from her life in the slums by Salaam Baalak Trust, now resides in a home for children.

While “Anuja” delves into the harsh realities of child labor, Graves emphasizes that the film is fundamentally about the relationship between the two sisters. “It’s just about two siblings undergoing an experience together who happen to be victims of child labor,” he said, highlighting their bond and its influence on their futures.

Graves characterizes “Anuja” as a coming-of-age film, contrasting it with more traditional narratives focused on privileged children. He believes the stories of children facing hardships are equally deserving of representation. In one memorable scene, the sisters read matrimonial ads from a local newspaper, often riddled with misogynistic and racist sentiments. “The idea was to poke fun at these ads and what those very misogynistic people are writing about what they’re looking for in a wife,” Graves explained, as the girls react with laughter to the absurdities presented.

Despite its short duration, “Anuja” transitions seamlessly between light-hearted moments and heartbreaking depictions of life in a Delhi slum. Professor Graves plans to attend the Oscars this Sunday alongside young actors Sajda Pathan and Ananya Shanbhag, who bring their characters to life on screen.

With a total of five nominees in the category, Graves remains optimistic about the film’s chances, estimating its likelihood of winning at over 20 percent. The 95th Academy Awards will air at 5 p.m. MT.