After spending several years in France, Pooja Vishal Sharma returned to India with a desire to reconnect with her roots. During her visit to a Gwalior-based NGO, which is home to mentally-challenged children abandoned due to poverty and social stigma, left a lasting impression on her. Deeply moved by their lives and resilience, Sharma was inspired to write Vimukt: In Search of the Sky. She later chose to give the story a cinematic form and stepped into the role of a first-time producer to bring her vision to life.

A truly independent film that captures the essence of Indian life and belief, In Search of the Sky recently had its world premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Shot in Braj language, the film was developed organically and its filming was completed in just 11 days, including a five-day schedule during this year’s Maha Kumbh Mela. The story follows the struggles of an elderly couple as they try to make ends meet while caring for their 26-year-old mentally-unstable son Naraan. Amidst their despair, the belief takes root that the son could be healed if he takes a holy dip in the Ganga during the Maha Kumbh.

The film, which was showcased in the TIFF’s Centrepiece section, is a result of strong artistic collaboration among Pooja; Jitank Singh Gurjar, the film’s director and screenplay writer; and Shelly Sharma, cinematographer and creative director. “After developing the story, our main concern was how we would shoot during Kumbh. It was chaotic and our team was small. So, we decided to first shoot the part of the story that’s set in Kumbh. Then, we went on to film the village segment. Had we not succeeded in shooting in Kumbh, then we would not have made the film,” says Jitank. The film was shot in Prayagraj during Mahakumbh and, after that, in Barai and Patwa villages of Madhya Pradesh.