At its heart, Anuja is a story of hope, survival, love, and sisterhood. It’s a story that’s all too familiar to us but, in some way, is still unique and important. Anuja is now streaming on Netflix and I suggest you watch it.

Anuja, the 22-minute short film, tells the story of orphaned sisters Anuja and Palak. Both of them work in a clothing factory in Delhi. Palak is smart, like most people are because circumstances force them to be. However, Anuja is precocious; she’s gifted and quite a genius at mathematics. Their world turns upside down when Mr Mishra, an educator, comes to the factory and convinces Anuja to take an exam that will get her admitted to a boarding school.

What makes Anuja so familiar yet unique?

Anuja is the story of millions of child labourers who want to build something better for themselves. The children who dare to dream but are never rescued from their hellish conditions. It’s a story of resilience and hope.

Along with the themes of poverty and child labour, the film beautifully captures the essence of sisterhood. Palak cares for Anuja like a mother and shoulders every responsibility. They do everything they can to earn enough money for Anuja to sit for the exam. They sell bags, put up with abuse, and everything else that comes in between. The film, in a subtle way, also highlights many things wrong with our society, corruption being one of them.

The film’s production also involved Salaam Baalak Trust, a non-profit organisation that provides food, shelter, and education to many such children. What you might not know is that Sajda Pathan, who plays the role of Anuja, is one of these children.

Director Adam J. Graves decided to work on Anuja when his wife and producing partner, Suchitra Mattai, told him that nearly one in 10 children under 15 are subjected to child labour. In his Director’s statement, he said, “There was an important story here, or rather an entire universe of stories waiting to be told. So, I dove headlong into the research on child labour, paying particular attention to sectors known to export products to wealthier nations.”

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