Who will come to my village and make a film?

'In Search of the Sky' offers a realistic view of the experience of raising a differently abled child in rural India

- Pahull Bains

With his debut feature, In Search of the Sky, Gwalior-born Jitank Singh Gurjar makes it clear that he's not a filmmaker concerned with neat narratives and tidy endings. He'd rather tell a slice-of-life story that explores emotional contradictions and leaves viewers to their own interpretations.

Set in rural Madhya Pradesh, the film—which had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival this weekend—follows an ageing couple struggling to care for their developmentally disabled adult son, Naran. A lifetime of daily hard labour (not to mention constant mockery from the villagers) has begun to take its toll on the father, causing him to question how much longer he can continue to fulfil his parental obligations.

Meanwhile, Naran's mother, his true caretaker in every sense of the word, is starting to worry about what kind of future lies in store for their only child once they're gone.

When a relative suggests a visit to the auspicious Maha Kumbh Mela, the parents decide to take one last leap of faith, in the desperate hope that this holy pilgrimage may free Naran of what ails him. As the story unfolds, the parents' conflicting desires and differing notions of freedom—for Naran, from Naran—begin to take shape.