Anuja REVIEW: Sajda Pathan & Ananya Shanbhag’s story of poverty & sisterhood will leave you teary-eyed

Film:
Anuja

Director & Writer: Adam J. Graves

Cast: Sajda Pathan, Ananya Shanbhag, Nagesh Bhonsle, Gulshan Walia, Sushil Parwana, Sunita Bhadauria, Rudolfo Rajeev Hubert, Jugal Kishore, Pankaj Gupta

Runtime: 22 minutes

Platform: Netflix

Anuja Review

If you have been given a choice to make your life better and leave the one you love behind, what would you do? For anyone at any age, it will be a heart-aching moment. You will just connect to the emotions of Sajda Pathan right from the start of her story as a nine-year-old girl who works in a garment factory. She has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to attend school and come out from the circle of poverty.

In this story, what will hold you up is the sisterhood bond between the two sisters and how they sacrifice for each other. Will Anuja take her chances? Will there be any change in their life? Will they be stuck in the same misery? That is what the story unfolds. What heart-wrenching decision she will take to determine her and her sister’s fate will leave you teary-eyed.

What Works

There are many children you might witness on the streets, selling, begging, and earning to fulfil their basic needs; this film gives them a ray of hope that one day their story will be heard. They will get what’s truly in their fate.. not just the basic needs but the opportunity to grow and become a selfless individual. The emotional core of the film is the unyielding love between the sisters. Their sacrifices of the sisters for each other create compelling and relatable moments that resonate deeply with the audience.

Sajda Pathan will fill you up with her performance and the portrayal of a girl torn between familial love and the desire for education is heartbreaking and authentic. The story’s resolution is thought-provoking and leaves the audience reflecting on societal norms and the resilience of familial love.

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What Doesn’t Work

While the film delivers emotional moments, some plot developments feel predictable and familiar in the social drama genre. The supporting cast could have been developed further to add depth to the narrative.

Technical Analysis

The storytelling captures the nuances of childhood struggles and tough decision-making with sincerity. Visuals effectively depict the grim setting of the garment factory and contrast it with Anuja’s fleeting moments of joy. The background score successfully amplifies key emotional moments without being overwhelming.

Star Performances

Sajda Pathan’s breakout performance perfectly captures the vulnerability and strength of a young girl facing life-altering decisions. What makes the story more real is that Sajda Pathan is one of the children from the NGO Salaam Baalak Trust from New Delhi.

Also, Ananya Shanbhag provides a grounded and compassionate portrayal as the elder sister who becomes a pillar of support for Anuja.

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Conclusion

Anuja is a tale of love, sacrifice, and the struggle for a better life and opportunity. With outstanding performances by Sajda Pathan and Ananya Shanbhag, it tugs at the heartstrings and delivers a powerful message about resilience and familial bonds. Despite minor shortcomings, the film remains a must-watch for its heartfelt storytelling and emotional depth.

Watch the trailer of Anuja here:

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