Mindy Kaling Boards Her “Favorite Film of the Year”, Live-Action Short ‘Anuja’, as Producer (Exclusive)

Mindy Kaling has boarded the live-action short Anuja as a producer off the back of its wins at the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival, the Montclair Film Festival, and the New York International Short Film Festival, The Hollywood Reporter can reveal.

Anuja, from Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai, is the story of a gifted nine-year-old girl played by Sajda Pathan who works in a garment factory in New Delhi, India. When she is offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to attend school, she is forced to make a heart-wrenching decision that will determine her and her sister Palak’s (Ananya Shanbhag) fate.

“My favorite film of the year is Anuja, the story of an extraordinary nine-year-old Indian girl and her sister,” Kaling said. “The genius filmmakers Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai have created something so special, and I’m honored to join as a producer.”

Kaling is best known for her starring role in the U.S. version of The Office, as well as her own show, The Mindy Project, and producing hits such as Never Have I Ever for Netflix and The Sex Lives of College Girls for HBO Max.

Mattai, also producing, said: “We are truly humbled by Mindy’s belief in the power of this story, and we can’t imagine a better partner to help carry Anuja forward.” Director Graves added: “We know that her own inspiring voice will help amplify the issues surrounding child labor and girls’ education and empower the film to make a more significant impact.”

The film has momentum going into Oscar voting season having won best live-action short at the HollyShorts Film Festival in Los Angeles, the audience award at Montclair Film Festival and the grand prize at the New York International Short Film Festival

In October, it was announced that the Indian powerhouse producer Guneet Monga Kapoor (The Elephant Whisperers, Period. End of Sentence) has also joined the film as an executive producer. Kaling and Monga Kapoor’s support is complemented by the team from Shine Global (the nonprofit behind War/Dance and the Oscar-winning short documentary Inocente),Krushan Naik Films (Resurgence), and the India-based nonprofit Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT).

The film also features Indian television actor Nagesh Bhonsle, best known internationally for his supporting role as police deputy commissioner in Hotel Mumbai alongside Dev Patel. Krushan Naik (Resurgence), Aaron Kopp (Saving Face, Liyana, Hunting Ground), and Alexandra Blaney (co-CEO and creative director, Shine Global)also serve as producers on the film. Other team members include Michael Graves and Ksheetij Saini.