Annual South Asians at the Oscars Party, Co-Hosted by Mindy Kaling, Leads to ‘Friendship and Community Building’

variety.com:

Abigail Lee Suchitra Mattai, producer of the Oscar-nominated live action short “Anuja,” says the film came out of wanting to highlight young South Asian women. “It just felt important to tell this particular type of story and to make a platform for young female, Indian, South Asian actresses,” Mattai said during her remarks at the annual South Asians at the Oscars pre-party in Los Angeles Wednesday evening.

The event, held at Carondelet House, celebrated South Asian filmmakers who have received Oscars recognition this year and was attended by various South Asian filmmakers, actors and producers.

Charithra Chandran, Manish Dayal and Lilly Singh were among those who attended the party. “Anuja” chronicles the experience of a 9-year-old garment factory worker who works alongside her 17-year-old sister.

Adam J. Graves, the film’s director and Mattai’s husband, said that child labor is “not a South Asian problem, it’s a global problem.” Mindy Kaling, one of the event’s co-hosts, was part of the “Anuja” producing team and said in her introduction of the filmmaking duo that the film “has young women in incredibly challenging circumstances” but also contains “joy.” “So much of the time, Indian people, South Asian people, we are portrayed in a certain light.