What Is the Story About?
The story revolves around two girls, namely Anuja and Palak. They hail from the slums of Delhi and their mother has passed away.
The two sisters work in a sewing factory, where the girls are supposed to work for 14 hours a day with a minimal break of 15 minutes.
Palak is a very sincere sister who wants to educate her younger sister despite the big hurdles. She even gets an opportunity to get Anuja admitted to a boarding school.
The examination fee is ₹400 and the way the sisters get that money is fantastical.
But Anuja is divided. The little girl doesn’t want to go to the boarding school, let alone leave her sister alone. She is a mere child but considerate enough to prioritise her sister’s wedding over her education.
What would she choose?
Performances?
The film has only two major actors, namely Sajda Pathan and Ananya Shanbhag. They play the roles of Anuja and Palak, respectively.
Nagesh Bhosle plays the owner of the sewing mill where the girls work. Sajda herself belongs to the slums and thus she does a pretty good job at playing the character of Anuja. But the film doesn’t even try to depend on actors.
They have done their part pretty well but there is nothing that you would remember for a long time. They are not at all bad, but they are not memorable either.
Analysis
This film is another world of a white man, where the white man never arrives. You can remember so many films like Indiana Jones, Slumdog Millionaire, and City of Joy.
In all these films, India remains savage until or unless a white man arrives at rescue. In Anuja, there is no white man. Perhaps that’s the reason the film is open-ended without any conclusion.
The movie does a good job at showing the situation of the slums but we need to ask a question.
“Is there nothing except slums in India that can attract the western filmmakers?”
Perhaps not.
The film takes a fantastic route at times. The way Anuja earns a lot of money is highly unbelievable.
The girls go to watch a movie and buy popcorn after earning ₹800 in Delhi.
Mind you, they had to save at least ₹400 for the exam.
Really?
Movie and popcorn for two within ₹400?
With the added expense of rickshaws and Jalebi.
Secondly, the way Palak evades her theft every day is just too cinematic. How can one NOT notice new bags every day when the only job of the person is to check bags?
And if Palak doesn’t carry anything to work, then won’t the guard doubt her for taking away an empty bag every day from work?
Whom is the film even fooling?
The film becomes unbelievable again when Anuja gets second thoughts about the exam.
The narrative of the film is such that it will be celebrated in the West.
To sum up, the film is highly unbelievable but it uses emotions and poverty to hide a poor screenplay.
But it is an Oscar nominee. You can guess the reasons.
Music and Other Departments?
There is not much of a role for music per se. The short film borrows scenes from the classic Hindi film Naya Daur and the BGM is okayish.
The camera work has to be lauded. The close-ups on the face and the focus on the clothes are really well done.
Highlights?
Harrowing Story
Camera work
Performances
Drawbacks?
Another tale of suppression without uniqueness
Too many fantasies to guide poor screenplay
Filled with plot holes
Did I Enjoy It?
Not much
Will You Recommend It?
Maybe, not strongly
Anuja Short Film Review by Binged Bureau