The British Asian comedy was also released in the US

Lost in Translation, The Station Agent and In America are also in the running.

Oscar favourites Cold Mountain, Mystic River, Seabiscuit and The Return of the King have been nominated in the adapted screenplay category.

The Writers Guild - which also rewards television writing - will announce the winners on 21 February.

Seabiscuit is based on Laura Hillenbrand's best-selling novel of the same name about a real-life racehorse who made a dramatic career comeback in the 1930s.

Animation

Director Gary Ross said: "It was such a famous and popular piece of history that it felt like a real challenge to make this a personal movie, which is the only way to move people."

Television drama nominees include episodes of The West Wing, a pilot episode of beach-based teen drama The OC, two episodes of Law and Order: SVU, the original Law and Order, and 24.

Frasier, Malcolm in the Middle and Sex in the City are up for comedy awards while Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Penn and Teller, Real Time with Bill Maher and Mad TV are nominated for best variety series writing.

The Simpsons have three episodes in the animation script category. King of the Hill, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius and Futurama are also nominated.