Yeh Khula Aasmaan tackles the burning issue of educational pressure and the neglect of ambitious parents faced by teens today. Director-writer Gitanjali Sinha does this through her protagonist Avinaash (Raj Tandon) who lives in Mumbai, and learns that he has failed to get the grades required for IIT. When his parents, who live in London, do not respond to his calls, Avinaash decides to go visit his estranged grandfather.

Dadu (Raghuvir Yadav) lives in a small town in North India, is hurting that his son and grandchild have not visited in over a decade, since immigrating to the UK. So Avinaash’s arrival becomes a balm as well as a catalyst for reconciliation. Just as much as Dadu enjoys having Avinaash’s around, he also becomes the support and guide Avinaash desperately seeks. Kite flying and the tricks for survival in a sky full of competing kites becomes the metaphor for valuable life lessons Avinaash learns from Dadu.

Sinha inserts a ridiculous love story between Avinaash and a neighbour’s granddaughter Muskaan (Anya Anand) and a number of songs which further retard an already flawed and painful narrative.

Besides Yadav, the acting is amateur, the writing pedestrian and the filmmaking is old-fashioned. Shoddily produced and a theme that’s poorly represented means Yeh Khula Aasmaan does not have the wings to fly.

Rating: *