Top Cast
Gattu is a 2012 Hindi film directed by Rajan Khosa, which gained high recognition in the Film Festival circuit. Khosa is most known for his previous film Dance of the Wind. Plot: In a nation that is obsessed with flying kites, the story is set in a small town Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India, where a nine-year-old orphan, Gattu works in his uncle's garbage-recycling business. The blue skies above the town is dominated by a kite named 'Kali' with mysterious origins. Out of the many kids who dream to defeat Kali, Gattu is more determined.
Critic Consensus
Critical reception for Gattu is warmly positive, with reviewers consistently praising its emotional depth and its portrayal of a child protagonist navigating hardship. Several critics placed it in the company of acclaimed Indian children's films like Taare Zameen Par and I Am Kalam, highlighting its sincerity and heart. Anupama Chopra noted that the narrative strains credibility at points, with the illiterate lead improbably deceiving teachers and classmates, though she felt the film's fable-like tone softened this issue. Overall, critics recommended it as a small-scale but meaningful film deserving wider attention.
6 rated reviews · 6 positive
AI-generated summary of 7 critic reviews · may contain errors
Report inaccuracyCritic Reviews (7)
Updated“The film does become a little far-fetched as Gattu, an illiterate, continues to fool his teachers and spins an unbelievable yarn for his classmates. But Khosa gives it a fable-like texture so that you don't mind too much when reality takes a backseat.Gattu is small in scale, but this is a film with heart.”Read full review ↗
“Gattu's ( Samad) sole spot of joy also comes from his deft handling of kites. Kite-flying helps him escape his life full of drudgery in a` kabaadkhaana', surrounded by the discards of other people. He is an orphan who's been taken under his `chacha''s ( Kumar ) wings, so he's not exactly on the streets, but he could very well be, given that he gets a bare bed and scant food and a lot of brusqueness in return for unending free labour.”Read full review ↗
“Produced by the Children's Film Society of India, Gattu won a special mention at the Berlin International Film Festival in February this year. It's the kind of charming film that'll feature on critics' year-end lists of movies you should have watched but probably didn't. Do yourself a favor – don't miss it.”Read full review ↗
“Gattu is a must watch for all but most especially cynics who believe 'there is no hope for any of us'. It took Gattu just a little less than two hours to prove it.”Read full review ↗
“Gattu scores high on the emotional quotient. It leaves you with a smile on your face.”Read full review ↗
“On the whole, a film like GATTU speaks to both, the kids and adults. Films like these, which aren't made to appease the box-office, but cater to a different audience, ought to be encouraged. For, there's life beyond zany entertainers as well!”Read full review ↗
“'Gattu' carries forward the recent trend of sensible, intelligent funny and moving films about child protagonists, namely 'Taare Zameen Par', 'I Am Kalam' and 'Stanley Ka Dabba'. Add one more film to that luminous list of cinema on little wonders.”Read full review ↗
Cast & Crew
Cast
- Mohammad Samad · Gattu
- Sarvasva · Honey Singh
- Naresh Kumar · Anees Bhai
- Bhura · Tiger - The sheep
Director
Music
Cinematography
Editing
Details
User Ratings & Reviews
No ratings or reviews yet — be the first to share your take.








