Director Gitanjali Sinha. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Sept. 5: In her 20s, Gitanjali Sinha has achieved a feat many can only dream about. Her first film — Yeh Khula Aasmaan — has received international acclaim.

“Beautiful film, very nice production… I loved to see how a young boy’s mind worked… A beautiful film with a wonderful script and outstanding performances,” were some of the comments made by the jury members at Kids First Film Festival.

“All of the scenes are well captured… The background music was exceptional… The relation among the son, father and the grandfather is cross-cultural,” the jury said.

Gitanjali’s first film has been nominated for several international awards, including Kids First, International Film Festival in South Africa, International Film Festival in Ireland, International Youth Film Festival, UK and Heart of England fest. It has also won the award for best foreign film at All Sports Film Festival, Los Angeles.

A Patna girl, Gitanjali did her schooling from Notre Dame Academy. She topped in her BA exams in Communicative English (with media studies) from Patna Women’s College in 2005. After college, she went to London and learnt filmmaking at the New York Film Academy. She simultaneously learnt scriptwriting at St Martin’s College of Art and Design from scriptwriter Josh Golding.

She learnt about characterisation and basic details of filmmaking, such as conceptualising the beginning, the middle and the end from her mentors. Gitanjali said: “You have to take care of the smallest details while making a film.”

Gitanjali also received training from Aruna Raje while doing a course in direction at filmmaker Subhash Ghai’s institute — Whistling Woods International. She had, by then, decided to make a film of her own. Hence began the idea of Yeh Khula Aasmaan.

She selected her own state for her first venture. While 90 per cent of the film has been shot in Bhagalpur, the rest has been shot in Mumbai. The film, very simply conveys the director’s message.

She said: “I live life as the situation demands. Sometimes, I am serious and sometimes cheerful. I have all the colours of life in me.” Gitanjali believes one should aim big in life but go step by step to achieve those goals.

Yeh Khula Aasmaan is set to release during Makar Sankranti. The film focuses on Avinash (Raj Tandon), a teenager, who is depressed when he is not able to do well in some competitive examination. He tries to contact his parents in London but both his father (Yashpal Sharma) and mother (Manjusha Godse) remain busy in their own lives.

Disheartened, Avinash goes to visit his grandfather. Raghuvir Yadav plays the role of the grandfather. He dances and sings to and presents to his grandson the beautiful side of life. He prepares Avinash for a kite flying competition that is to be held in the village. He keeps on encouraging his grandson, trying to bring back his lost confidence. A girl from the place also plays a role in boosting his confidence. Finally, Avinash learns to enjoy life.

Raghuvir Yadav has lend his voice to the song — Ur fur kar udti jaaye, titli si masti mein — to explain how the kite, in spite of all obstacles in its path, keeps on flying.