Gattu , directed by Rajan Khosa, has been honoured with a special mention at the prestigious 62nd Berlin film festival.
The film was produced by the Children's Film Society of India (CFSI).
“I'm very thrilled. To children, I wish to say, believe in your dreams against all odds and your dreams will come true. And to adults, I wish to say, make sure all across the world, that no child remains on the street, but in the trustful environment of the school,” said Mr. Khosa.
The film has the charming Mohammad Samad playing an orphan who wants to escape working in his uncle's garbage recycling business in order to attend school. “We had sold out shows of Gattu in Berlin, and I'm delighted with the response of the children. I had to sign 400 autographs,” said an exhilarated Mr. Khosa.
“It is a proud moment for all of us in CFSI. Berlinale is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world and the little street urchin Gattu won many a heart by his witty pranks and his determination to fulfil his dream,” Sushovan Banerjee, CEO, CFSI, told PTI in New Delhi.
India earlier made a big splash with the Berlinale Special Gala screening of Farhan Akhtar's Don 2 . At actor Shah Rukh Khan's urging, Dieter Kosslick, Berlin Film Festival director, and Kirsten Niehuus, Managing Director, Film Funding, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, which co-produced the film, danced on the stage to the film's theme song. — PTI