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April 22, 2026 at 11:15:00 PM

AFS Cinema

FREE for members

Texas Premiere

Vimukt (In Search of the Sky)

India

2024

Virtual Q&A with writer-director Jitank Gurjar and lead actor Nikhil Yadav

Preceeded by the short film Hills Don't Dance Alone

Toronto International Film Festival - Netpac jury award
International Film Festival of India

Vimukt (In Search of the Sky) follows an aging couple, Jasrath and Vidya, who are deeply devoted to their intellectually disabled son, Naraan—a sweet, curious soul adrift in his own world.

For the parents, life is a grueling cycle of labor and a growing, painful awareness that they may soon be too old to care for him.

Desperate for a miracle to "heal" their son's mind, the family embarks on an epic, soul-stirring pilgrimage to the once-in-a-century Maha Kumbh, the largest religious gathering on Earth. But as they navigate the swirling lights and shadowy figures of the festival, the journey becomes less about a physical cure and more about a profound internal awakening. This poignant and visually stunning debut from Jitank Singh Gurjar offers a rare, intimate look at a rural Indian family grappling with life’s most difficult questions—the ones that have no easy answers.

Vimukt (In Search of the Sky)

Restoration Process

Film restoration process

Manthan (1976) - Before and After Image.png

Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation

About the Artist

Jitank Singh Gurjar

Jitank Gurjar is an independent filmmaker and theatre artist with over 11 years of experience, spanning theatre, ad films, music videos, and documentaries. A self-taught storyteller, he made his directorial debut with BAASAN, a regional art film rooted in rural folklore, officially screened at IFFI 54 and the 2024 Cannes Marché du Film.

Vimukt (In Search of the Sky)
Vimukt (In Search of the Sky)

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Trailer

For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions.

Credits

Crew:

Director:   

Jitank Singh Gurjar

Writer:

Jitank Singh Gurjar, Pooja Vishal Sharma

Producer(s):

Pooja Vishal Sharma

Film Editor:

Pavan Theurkar

Featured Cast:

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Thank you to our community partners for this screening!

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