For those who have yet to see Anuja, explain the plot of the film.
ANUJA tells the story of an exceptionally gifted nine-year-old girl (Anuja) who works alongside her older sister at a back-alley garment factory in Delhi, India. When a social worker shows up at the factory, offering Anuja a once-in-a-lifetime chance of attending a boarding school, she and her sister are set off on a little adventure. Eventually, Anuja faces a heart-wrenching decision—one that far too many girls around the globe are forced to make.
What inspired you to tell this story and set it in India?
I have a background in South Asia Studies, and I’ve spent years studying and working with a couple non-profits in India. So, it seemed a natural place for me to shoot. But the story is largely inspired by my wife (Suchitra Mattai), whose ancestors were brought from India to Guyana as indentured laborers under the British. She and I have always been interested in issues surrounding labor and globalization. When we read that “one in ten children across the globe are engaged in child labor,” we immediately thought that we needed to use the medium of film to shine a light on the issue. It’s such a common experience, and yet so few films tell the story of these working kids.
The young girls give terrific performances. How did you discover them?
Yes, they are simply amazing actresses! From the inception of the project, we really wanted to collaborate with organizations and communities directly impacted by child labor. One of these organizations (the Salaam Baalak Trust, or SBT) operates orphanages in Delhi that serve kids who were formerly working and living on the streets. They have a theater program and lots of their kids submitted self tapes. But as soon as we saw Sajda Pathan’s audition, we knew there was something incredibly special about her. And, coincidentally, her own story parallels that of the character she plays—about 8 months before we bagin filming, she had been living on the streets of Delhi with her older sister. The young woman (Ananya Shanbhag) who plays the older sister is a gifted classical dancer, but had never acted prior to this film. We found her in Mumbai with the help of Romil Modi, an amazing casting agent.
What were the biggest challenges in making this film?
Filming on the bustling streets of Delhi without drawing too much attention to ourselves! We often had crowds in the hundreds gathering around our little production, and managing those crowds while also trying to get the shot was a challenge. We also struggled to lock locations. For instance, we thought we had an agreement to shoot in a mall, but the manager who signed that agreement wasn’t in that day. So while filming the scene where Anuja is chased by a security guard, Sajda and my DP were being chased by an actual security guard! It was like a movie within a movie! We should have made a documentary about the making of ANUJA.
Tell us about your background and how you got into filmmaking.
Like most filmmakers, I’ve been obsessed with the movies since I can remember. But I’ve spent most of my life as a professor of philosophy, exploring issues related to human action, freedom and responsibility. In the course of teaching, I began to realize that, as a medium, film provides a powerful way of exploring aspects of human existence that often elude logical and conceptual analysis. For me, my work in film and philosophy are almost like two side of the same coin.
The film is incredibly cinematic and deserves a place on the big screen. Are there any plans to develop this into a feature length film?
Great question! Yes, I am currently developing an international suspense drama—think Stephen Gaghan’s SYRIANA or Alejandro Iñárritu’s BABEL—that incorporates an “Anuja-like” protagonist into a larger storyline, connection characters from across continents. In addition to child labor, it deals with the problem of electronic waste…but it’s also a highly entertaining script! And I hope to work with many of the same folks, including Sajda, Ananya and my fantastic editor and producer, Krushan Naik.
Congratulations for winning Best Live Action Short at HollyShorts. How did it feel to pick up that award?
It was a real honor to be recognized by such a fantastic festival, one that drew over 6,000 submissions. So many people worked so hard on this film—especially the child actors—that I’m just grateful it’s getting this kind of attention. I knew it was a special film, but it’s gratifying to see it resonating with audiences.
What’s next for you?
Well, aside from developing the next project (above), we’re working with Shine Global on a social impact campaign, hoping to raise awareness about child labor. And we’re also launching an Oscar campaign, with the help of some wonderful partners. If we get nominated, I’d love to bring Sajda to the Academy Awards ceremony! That would be a dream!